Al Ma'arij

1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. A questioner questioned concerning the doom about to fall

1 A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall -

2 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel,

2 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off, -

3 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways

3 (A Penalty) from Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent.

4 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years.

4 The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years:

5 But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see.

5 Therefore do thou hold Patience, - a Patience of beautiful (contentment).

6 Lo! they behold it afar off

6 They see the (Day) indeed as a far - off (event):

7 While we behold it nigh:

7 But We see it (quite) near.

8 The day when the sky will become as molten copper,

8 The Day that the sky will be like molten brass,

9 And the hills become as flakes of wool,

9 And the mountains will be like wool,

10 And no familiar friend will ask a question of his friend

10 And no friend will ask after a friend,

11 Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children

11 Though they will be put in sight of each other, - the sinner's desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children,

12 And his spouse and his brother

12 His wife and his brother,

13 And his kin that harboured him

13 His kindred who sheltered him,

14 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him.

14 And all, all that is on earth, - so it could deliver him:

15 But nay! for lo! it is the fire of hell

15 By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell! -

16 Eager to roast;

16 Plucking out (his being) right to the skull! -

17 It calleth him who turned and fled (from truth),

17 Inviting (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from the Right).

18 And hoarded (wealth) and withheld it.

18 And collect (wealth) and hide it (from use)!

19 Lo! man was created anxious,

19 Truly man was created very impatient; -

20 Fretful when evil befalleth him

20 Fretful when evil touches him;

21 And, when good befalleth him, grudging;

21 And niggardly when good reaches him; -

22 Save worshippers.

22 Not so those devoted to Prayer; -

23 Who are constant at their worship

23 Those who remain steadfast to their prayer;

24 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged

24 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right.

25 For the beggar and the destitute;

25 For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking);

26 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment,

26 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment;

27 And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom -

27 And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord, -

28 Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure -

28 For their Lord's displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity; -

29 And those who preserve their chastity

29 And those who guard their chastity,

30 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy;

30 Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess, - for (then) they are not to be blamed,

31 But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors;

31 But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors; -

32 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant,

32 And those who respect their trusts and covenants;

33 And those who stand by their testimony

33 And those who stand firm in their testimonies;

34 And those who are attentive at their worship.

34 And those who guard (the sacredness) of their worship; -

35 These will dwell in Gardens, honoured.

35 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss).

36 What aileth those who disbelieve, that they keep staring toward thee (O Muhammad), open - eyed,

36 Now what is the matter with the Unbelievers that they rush madly before thee -

37 On the right and on the left, in groups ?

37 From the right and from the left, in crowds?

38 Doth every man among them hope to enter the Garden of Delight ?

38 Does every man of them long to enter the Garden of Bliss?

39 Nay, verily. Lo! We created them from what they know.

39 By no means! For We have created them out of the (base matter) they know!

40 But nay! I swear by the Lord of the rising - places and the setting - places of the planets that We verily are Able

40 Now I do call to witness the Lord of all points in the East and the West that We can certainly -

41 To replace them by (others) better than them. And we are not to be outrun.

41 Substitute for them better (men) than they; And We are not to be defeated (in Our Plan).

42 So let them chat and play until they meet their Day which they are promised,

42 So leave them to plunge in vain talk and play about, until they encounter that Day of theirs which they have been promised! -

43 The day when they come forth from the graves in haste, as racing to a goal,

43 The Day whereon they will issue from their sepulchres in sudden haste as if they were rushing to a goal - post (fixed for them), -

44 With eyes aghast, abasement stupefying them: Such is the Day which they are promised.

44 Their eyes lowered in dejection, - ignominy covering them (all over)! such is the Day the which they are promised!