Al Ma'arij

1 A questioner asked about a Penalty to 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, the which there is none to ward off, -

2 Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert,

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

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

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

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

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

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

7 But We see it (quite) near.

7 But We see it (quite) near.

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

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 will be like wool,

9 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool.

10 And no friend will ask after a friend,

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

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 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 His wife and his brother,

12 And his wife and his brother,

13 His kindred who sheltered him,

13 And his kindred who sheltered him,

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

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

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

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

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

16 Taking away (burning completely) the head skin!

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

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

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

19 Truly man was created very impatient; -

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

20 Fretful when evil touches him;

20 Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him;

21 And niggardly when good reaches him; -

21 And niggardly when good touches him.

22 Not so those devoted to Prayer; -

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

23 Those who remain steadfast to their prayer;

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

24 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right.

24 And those in whose wealth there is a recognised right

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

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 hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment;

26 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense.

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

27 And those who fear the torment of their Lord.

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

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

29 And those who guard their chastity,

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

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

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

32 And those who respect their trusts and covenants;

32 And those who keep their trusts and covenants.

33 And those who stand firm in their testimonies;

33 And those who stand firm in their testimonies.

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

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

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

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

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

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 From the right and from the left, in crowds?

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 long to enter the Garden of Bliss?

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

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

39 No, that is not like that! Verily, We have created them out of that which 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 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 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 leave them to plunge in vain talk and play about, 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 will come out of the graves quickly 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 their eyes lowered in fear and humility, ignominy covering them (all over)! That is the Day which they were promised!