Al Ma'arij

1 A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall -

1 A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen

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

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

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

3 [It is] from Allah, owner 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 Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years.

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

5 So be patient with gracious patience.

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

6 Indeed, they see it [as] distant,

7 But We see it (quite) near.

7 But We see it [as] near.

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

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

9 And the mountains will be like wool,

9 And the mountains will be like wool,

10 And no friend will ask after a friend,

10 And no friend will ask [anything of] a 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 They will be shown each other. The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed 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 nearest kindred who shelter him

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

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

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

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

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

16 A remover of exteriors.

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

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

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

18 And collected [wealth] and hoarded.

19 Truly man was created very impatient; -

19 Indeed, mankind was created anxious:

20 Fretful when evil touches him;

20 When evil touches him, impatient,

21 And niggardly when good reaches him; -

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

22 Not so those devoted to Prayer; -

22 Except the observers of prayer -

23 Those who remain steadfast to their prayer;

23 Those who are constant in their prayer

24 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right.

24 And those within whose wealth is a known right

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

25 For the petitioner and the deprived -

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 are fearful of the punishment of their Lord -

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

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

29 And those who guard their chastity,

29 And those who guard their private parts

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 those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed -

31 But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors; -

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

32 And those who respect their trusts and covenants;

32 And those who are to their trusts and promises attentive

33 And those who stand firm in their testimonies;

33 And those who are in their testimonies upright

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

34 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer:

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

35 They will be in gardens, honored.

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, hastening [from] before you, [O Muhammad],

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

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

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

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

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

39 No! Indeed, We have created them from 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] risings and settings that indeed 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 with better than them; and We are not to be outdone.

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

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

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