The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 Upon the disbelievers – the punishment that none can avert. 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 So be thou patient with a sweet patience; 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 but We see it to be very near. 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 and the mountains become like wool, 9 and no bosom friend will enquire about any of his bosom friends 10 though they may be in one another's sight: [for,] everyone who was lost in sin will on that Day but desire to ransom himself from suffering at the price of his own children, 11 his companion wife, his brother, 12 And the family in which he was. 13 And all who are on the earth; so that this might deliver him. 14 By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell!- 15 Dragging by the head, 16 and it will claim all those who turned their backs [on the true faith] and turned away [from the truth], 17 and who accumulated wealth without spending it for a good purpose. 18 ۞ Indeed, man is born impatient: 19 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 and continue at their prayers, 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 for such as ask [for help] and such as are deprived [of what is good in life]; 25 those who firmly believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 and go in fear of the chastisement of their Lord 27 for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure; 28 who guard their carnal desires 29 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors; 31 (Those) who keep their trusts and their covenant, 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 and who observe their prayers. 34 Those shall dwell in Gardens, honoured. 35