The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 Upon the infidels -- which none would be able to repel -- 2 From Allah, the Lord of all pinnacles. 3 Whereby the angels ascend unto Him and also the spirit, On a Day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 So be thou patient with a sweet patience; 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 But We see it very near. 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 and the mountains will become like dyed tufts of wool, 9 No loyal friend will ask another loyal friend 10 as they are given sight of them. The sinner will wish that he might ransom himself from the chastisement of that day even by his sons, 11 And his wife and his brother 12 And his kin that harboured him 13 And all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him. 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 A remover of exteriors. 16 It shall claim him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 and amassed wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man was created fretful, 19 If evil befalls him he is perturbed; 20 And niggardly when good reaches him;- 21 Not so those devoted to Prayer;- 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth exists a recognised right, 24 For those who beg, and for the needy who cannot even ask. 25 And those who testify to the Day of Requital. 26 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord-- 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 28 And those who guard their chastity, 29 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed - 30 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors - 31 who honor their trust and promises, 32 And those who are in their testimonies upright 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 It is these who will be honoured in Gardens. 35