Al Ma'arij

1 A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen

1 A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall -

2 To the disbelievers; of it there is no preventer.

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

3 [It is] from Allah, owner of the ways of ascent.

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

4 The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which 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 So be patient with gracious patience.

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

6 Indeed, they see it [as] distant,

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

7 But We see it [as] near.

7 But We see it (quite) near.

8 On the Day the sky will be like murky oil,

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

9 And the mountains will be like wool,

9 And the mountains will be like wool,

10 And no friend will ask [anything of] a friend,

10 And no friend will ask after a friend,

11 They will be shown each other. The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by 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 wife and his brother

12 His wife and his brother,

13 And his nearest kindred who shelter him

13 His kindred who sheltered him,

14 And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him.

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

15 No! Indeed, it is the Flame [of Hell],

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

16 A remover of exteriors.

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

17 It invites he who turned his back [on truth] and went away [from obedience]

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

18 And collected [wealth] and hoarded.

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

19 Indeed, mankind was created anxious:

19 Truly man was created very impatient; -

20 When evil touches him, impatient,

20 Fretful when evil touches him;

21 And when good touches him, withholding [of it],

21 And niggardly when good reaches him; -

22 Except the observers of prayer -

22 Not so those devoted to Prayer; -

23 Those who are constant in their prayer

23 Those who remain steadfast to their prayer;

24 And those within whose wealth is a known right

24 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right.

25 For the petitioner and the deprived -

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 Recompense

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

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

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

28 Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe -

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

29 And those who guard their private parts

29 And those who guard their chastity,

30 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed -

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

31 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors -

31 But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors; -

32 And those who are to their trusts and promises attentive

32 And those who respect their trusts and covenants;

33 And those who are in their testimonies upright

33 And those who stand firm in their testimonies;

34 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer:

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

35 They will be in gardens, honored.

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

36 So what is [the matter] with those who disbelieve, hastening [from] before you, [O Muhammad],

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

37 [To sit] on [your] right and [your] left in separate groups?

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

38 Does every person among them aspire to enter a garden of pleasure?

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

39 No! Indeed, We have created them from that which they know.

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

40 So I swear by the Lord of [all] risings and settings that indeed We 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 with better than them; and We are not to be outdone.

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

42 So leave them to converse vainly and amuse themselves 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 they will emerge from the graves rapidly as if they were, toward an erected idol, hastening.

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 Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. That is the Day which they had been promised.

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