English - Chapter 70 - Al-Maarij

A man [mockingly] demanded the punishment

It will fall on the disbelievers––none can deflect it––

from God, the Lord of the Ways of Ascent

by which the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him, on a Day whose length is fifty thousand years

So be patient, [Prophet], as befits you

The disbelievers think it is distant

but We know it to be close

On a Day when the heavens will be like molten brass

and the mountains like tufts of wool

when no friend will ask about his friend

even when they are within sight of one another. The guilty person will wish he could save himself from the suffering of that Day by sacrificing his sons

his spouse, his brother

the kinsfolk who gave him shelter

and everyone on earth, if it could save him

But no! There is a raging flame

that strips away the skin

and it will claim everyone who rejects the truth, turns away

amasses wealth and hoards it

Man was truly created anxious

he is fretful when misfortune touches him

but tight-fisted when good fortune comes his way

Not so those who pray

and are constant in their prayers

who give a due share of their wealth

to beggars and the deprived

who believe in the Day of Judgement

and fear the punishment of their Lord––

none may feel wholly secure from it––

who guard their chastity

from all but their spouses or their slave-girls––there is no blame attached to [relations with] these

but those whose desires exceed this limit are truly transgressors––

who are faithful to their trusts and their pledges

who give honest testimony

and are steadfast in their prayers

They will be honoured in Gardens of bliss

What is wrong with the disbelievers? Why do they rush to peer at you [Prophet]

from right and left, in crowds

Does every one of them expect to enter a Garden of bliss

No! We created them from the substance they know

and, by the Lord of every sunrise and sunset, We have the power

to substitute for them others better than they are- nothing can prevent Us from doing this

So leave them to wallow in idle talk, until they come face to face with their promised Day

the Day they will rush out of their graves as if rallying to a flag

eyes downcast and covered in shame: that is the Day of which they were warned