Al Ma'arij

1 One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall

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

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

2 Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert,

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

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

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

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

5 Therefore endure with a goodly patience.

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

6 Surely they think it to be far off,

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

7 And We see it nigh.

7 But We see it (quite) near.

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

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

9 And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool

9 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool.

10 And friend shall not ask of friend

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

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 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,

12 And his wife and his brother

12 And his wife and his brother,

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

13 And his kindred who sheltered 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, so that it might save him.

15 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire

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

16 Dragging by the head,

16 Taking away (burning completely) the head skin!

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

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)

18 And amasses (wealth) then shuts it up.

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

19 Surely man is created of a hasty temperament

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

20 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him

20 Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him;

21 And niggardly when good befalls him

21 And niggardly when good touches him.

22 Except those who pray,

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

23 Those who are constant at their prayer

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

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

24 And those in whose wealth there is a recognised right

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

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).

26 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day

26 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense.

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

27 And those who fear the torment of their Lord.

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

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

29 And those who guard their private parts,

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

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

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

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

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

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

32 And those who keep their trusts and covenants.

33 And those who are upright in their testimonies,

33 And those who stand firm in their testimonies.

34 And those who keep a guard on their prayer,

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

35 Those shall be in gardens, honored.

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

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

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)].

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 leave them to plunge in vain talk and play about, 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 will come out of the graves quickly 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 their eyes lowered in fear and humility, ignominy covering them (all over)! That is the Day which they were promised!