Al Ma'arij

1 A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall -

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

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

2 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel,

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

3 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways

4 The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) 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 do thou hold Patience, - a Patience of beautiful (contentment).

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

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

6 Lo! they behold it afar off

7 But We see it (quite) near.

7 While we behold it nigh:

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

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

9 And the mountains will be like wool,

9 And the hills become as flakes of wool,

10 And no friend will ask after a friend,

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

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,

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 His wife and his brother,

12 And his spouse and his brother

13 His kindred who sheltered him,

13 And his kin that harboured him

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

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

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

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

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

16 Eager to roast;

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

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

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

18 And hoarded (wealth) and withheld it.

19 Truly man was created very impatient; -

19 Lo! man was created anxious,

20 Fretful when evil touches him;

20 Fretful when evil befalleth him

21 And niggardly when good reaches him; -

21 And, when good befalleth him, grudging;

22 Not so those devoted to Prayer; -

22 Save worshippers.

23 Those who remain steadfast to their prayer;

23 Who are constant at their worship

24 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right.

24 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged

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

25 For the beggar and the destitute;

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

26 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment,

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

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

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

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

29 And those who guard their chastity,

29 And those who preserve their chastity

30 Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess, - for (then) they 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 those who trespass beyond this are transgressors; -

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

32 And those who respect their trusts and covenants;

32 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant,

33 And those who stand firm in their testimonies;

33 And those who stand by their testimony

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

34 And those who are attentive at their worship.

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

35 These will dwell in Gardens, honoured.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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), -

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

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

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