The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 (Muhammad), exercise patience with no complaints. 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 but We see it to be very near. 7 The Day that the sky will be like molten brass, 8 And then the mountains shall become like unto wool dyed. 9 And no friend will ask concerning his friend. 10 Though they shall be made to see one another [(i.e. on the Day of Resurrection), there will be none but see his father, children and relatives, but he will neither speak to them nor will ask them for any help)], - the Mujrim, (criminal, sinner, disbeliever, etc.) would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children. 11 His wife and his brother, 12 And his kin that harboured him 13 and all the people of the earth, if that could deliver him. 14 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire 15 snatching away the scalp, 16 It will summon whoever turns his back and flees, 17 And masseth and then hoardeth. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 when evil visits him, impatient, 20 And refraining, when good reaches him. 21 Not so are the prayerful. 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 In whose wealth a due share is included 24 For the beggar and the destitute; 25 who confirm the Day of Doom 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 for none is secure from the punishment of their Lord, 28 and guard their private parts 29 except from their spouses and those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock], for which they incur no blame -- 30 But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors; 31 And those who keep their trusts and covenants; 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35