Al Ma'arij

1 In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall

1 One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall

2 Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert,

2 The unbelievers - - there is none to avert it - -

3 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent.

3 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent.

4 The angels and the Ruh [Jibril (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years.

4 To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years.

5 So be patient (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), with a good patience.

5 Therefore endure with a goodly patience.

6 Verily, they see it (the torment) afar off.

6 Surely they think it to be far off,

7 But We see it (quite) near.

7 And We see it nigh.

8 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead).

8 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper

9 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool.

9 And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool

10 And no friend will ask a friend (about his condition),

10 And friend shall not ask of friend

11 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) would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children,

11 (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children,

12 And his wife and his brother,

12 And his wife and his brother

13 And his kindred who sheltered him,

13 And the nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter,

14 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him.

14 And all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him.

15 By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell,

15 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire

16 Taking away (burning completely) the head skin!

16 Dragging by the head,

17 Calling (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from Faith) [picking and swallowing them up from that great gathering of mankind on the Day of Resurrection just as a bird picks up a food-grain from the earth with its beak and swallows it up] (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi)

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

18 And collect (wealth) and hide it (from spending it in the Cause of Allah).

18 And amasses (wealth) then shuts it up.

19 Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient;

19 Surely man is created of a hasty temperament

20 Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him;

20 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him

21 And niggardly when good touches him.

21 And niggardly when good befalls him

22 Except those who are devoted to Salat (prayers).

22 Except those who pray,

23 Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers);

23 Those who are constant at their prayer

24 And those in whose wealth there is a recognised right

24 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion.

25 For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened).

25 For him who begs and for him who is denied (good)

26 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense.

26 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day

27 And those who fear the torment of their Lord.

27 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord - -

28 Verily, the torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure. -

28 Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of - -

29 And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts).

29 And those who guard their private parts,

30 Except from their wives or the (women slaves) whom their right hands possess - for (then) they are not blameworthy.

30 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess - - for these surely are not to be blamed,

31 But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers.

31 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits - -

32 And those who keep their trusts and covenants.

32 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant

33 And those who stand firm in their testimonies.

33 And those who are upright in their testimonies,

34 And those who guard their Salat (prayers) well.

34 And those who keep a guard on their prayer,

35 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise), honoured.

35 Those shall be in gardens, honored.

36 So what is the matter with those who disbelieve that they hasten to listen from you [O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), in order to belie you and to mock at you, and at Allah's Book (this Qur'an)].

36 But what is the matter with those who disbelieve that they hasten on around you,

37 (Sitting) in groups on the right and on the left (of you, O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)?

37 On the right hand and on the left, in sundry parties?

38 Does every man of them hope to enter the Paradise of Delight?

38 Does every man of them desire that he should be made to enter the garden of bliss?

39 No, that is not like that! Verily, We have created them out of that which they know!

39 By no means! Surely We have created them of what they know.

40 So I swear by the Lord of all the [three hundred and sixty-five (365)] points of sunrise and sunset in the east and the west that surely We are Able

40 But nay! I swear by the Lord of the Easts and the Wests that We are certainly able

41 To replace them by (others) better than them; and We are not to be outrun.

41 To bring instead (others) better than them, and We shall not be overcome.

42 So leave them to plunge in vain talk and play about, until they meet their Day which they are promised -

42 Therefore leave them alone to go on with the false discourses and to sport until they come face to face with that day of theirs with which they are threatened;

43 The Day when they will come out of the graves quickly as racing to a goal,

43 The day on which they shall come forth from their graves in haste, as if they were hastening on to a goal,

44 With their eyes lowered in fear and humility, ignominy covering them (all over)! That is the Day which they were promised!

44 Their eyes cast down; disgrace shall overtake them; that is the day which they were threatened with.