Al Ma'arij

1 One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall

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

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

2 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel,

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

3 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways

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

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

5 Therefore endure with a goodly patience.

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

6 Surely they think it to be far off,

6 Lo! they behold it afar off

7 And We see it nigh.

7 While we behold it nigh:

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

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

9 And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool

9 And the hills become as flakes of wool,

10 And friend shall not ask of friend

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

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,

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

12 And his wife and his brother

12 And his spouse and his brother

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

13 And his kin that harboured him

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

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

15 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire

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

16 Dragging by the head,

16 Eager to roast;

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

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

18 And amasses (wealth) then shuts it up.

18 And hoarded (wealth) and withheld it.

19 Surely man is created of a hasty temperament

19 Lo! man was created anxious,

20 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him

20 Fretful when evil befalleth him

21 And niggardly when good befalls him

21 And, when good befalleth him, grudging;

22 Except those who pray,

22 Save worshippers.

23 Those who are constant at their prayer

23 Who are constant at their worship

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

24 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged

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

25 For the beggar and the destitute;

26 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day

26 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment,

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

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

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

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

29 And those who guard their private parts,

29 And those who preserve their chastity

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

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

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

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

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

32 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant,

33 And those who are upright in their testimonies,

33 And those who stand by their testimony

34 And those who keep a guard on their prayer,

34 And those who are attentive at their worship.

35 Those shall be in gardens, honored.

35 These will dwell in Gardens, honoured.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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;

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

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

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

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

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