English - Chapter 70 - Al-Maarij

A beseecher besought the visitation of chastisement

(a chastisement meant) for the unbelievers, one which none can avert

a chastisement from Allah, the Lord of the ascending steps

by which the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in one Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years

So, (O Prophet), persevere with gracious perseverance

Verily they think that the chastisement is far off

while We think that it is near at hand

It shall befall on a Day whereon the sky will become like molten brass

and the mountains will become like dyed tufts of wool

and no bosom friend will enquire about any of his bosom friends

although they shall be within sight of one another. The guilty one would fain ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his children

and his spouse and his brother

and his kinsfolk who had stood by him

and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself

By no means! It will be the fierce flame

that will strip off the scalp

It shall insistently summon him who turned his back and retreated

and amassed wealth and covetously hoarded it

Verily man is impatient by nature

bewailing when evil befalls him

and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him

except those that pray

and are constant in their Prayer

and those in whose wealth there is a known right

for those that ask and those that are dispossessed

those who firmly believe in the Day of Recompense

and fear the chastisement of their Lord–

surely the chastisement of their Lord is a thing none can feel secure from –

and those who guard their private parts

except in regard to their spouses and those whom their right hands possess, for in regard to them they are not reproachable

but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors

and those who are upright in their testimonies

and who take due care of their Prayer

all these shall live honourably in the Gardens

But what is the matter with the unbelievers who are hurrying towards you

in crowds, both on the right and on the left

Does everyone of them wish to enter the Garden of Bliss

By no means! They know that which We have created them from

I swear by the Lord of the easts and the wests that We have the power

to replace them by others who would be better than they; and We shall certainly not be overpowered

So leave them to engage in vain talk and to amuse themselves until they come face to face with the Day which they are promised

the Day on which they will hastily come forth from their graves, as though they were hurrying on to the altars of their deities

Their eyes will be downcast and disgrace will overwhelm them. Such is the Day that they were promised