English - Chapter 70 - Al-Maarij

A questioner asked about the chastisement which must befall

From Allah, the Lord of the Ascending Stairways

To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a Day the measure of which is fifty thousand years

Therefore endure with a goodly patience

Surely they think it to be far off

And We see it nigh

On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper

And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool

And friend shall not ask of friend

Though they shall be given sight of each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by sacrificing his children

And his wife and his brother

And the nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter

And all those that are in the earth, hoping to be delivered

By no means! Surely it is a flaming Fire

Dragging him right to his skull

It calls him who turned and fled from truth

And amasses wealth then locks it up

Surely man is created anxious (or impatient)

Fretful when evil afflicts him

And niggardly when good befalls him

Except those who pray

Those who are constant (or devoted) at their prayer

And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion

For him who begs and for him who is destitute

And those who accept the truth of the Day of Judgment

And those who are fearful of the displeasure of their Lord

Surely the displeasure of their Lord is a thing before which none can feel secure (or is the opposite of peace and tranquillity)

And those who guard their chastity

Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess - for on these surely is no blame

But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that transgress beyond bounds

And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant

And those who are upright in their testimonies

And those who keep guard (the sacredness of) their worship

Those shall be in Gardens, honoured

But what ails those who disbelieve that they rush around you (Muhammad) open-eyed (in mock amazement)

On the right hand and on the left, in sundry groups

Does every man of them desire that he should be made to enter the Garden of Bliss

By no means! Surely We have created them of what they know (earth and spirit)

But nay! I swear by (or call to witness) the Lord of all points of the rising and setting places East and West that We are certainly Able

To replace them with others better than them, and We shall not be overcome

Therefore leave them alone to go on with the false discourses and to sport until they come face to face with that Day of theirs with which they are warned

The Day on which they shall come forth from their graves in haste, as if they were racing to a goal

Their eyes cast down; disgrace shall overtake them; that is the Day which they were promised