English - Chapter 70 - Al-Maarij

A questioner questions punishment that is bound to befall

Those who suppress the Truth. There is none to defend anyone

From Allah, Lord of the [many] ascents

The time taken by the angels and the Spirit to ascend to Him is fifty thousand years [of man's reckoning]

So, (O Prophet), be graciously patient [at the disbelievers' deliberate disbelief]

They do indeed see it [punishment] long in coming

And We see it near

That Day, the sky will be like molten metal

And the mountains will be like wool

And friend will not ask of friend

Although they would be able to see one another. The sinner would like to save himself from the punishment of that Day by offering (even) his children in ransom

And [he would offer] his spouse and his brother

And [he would offer] his kindred who sheltered him

And [he would offer] all all that is on the earth, if only he could thus save himself

But no! The fierce flame of Hell-fire it shall be

That would be stripping their scalds off

It [the Fire] would summon him who had turned away and retreated

Man is indeed impatient by nature

When adversity touches him he bewails

And when prosperity touches him, he is begrudging

But those who pray are not [so impatient]

Those that are constant in their prayers

And those in whose wealth there is a known right

For those that beg and for those that are deprived

And [among those who are not impatient are] those who sincerely believe in the Day of Judgment

And those that fear the punishment of their Lord

— There is indeed no security against punishment of their Lord —

And those that guard their chastity

Except from their spouses or from those whom they rightfully possess. For indulging in sex with them, they are, of course, not to be blamed

But whoever seeks to go beyond that — those are the ones that go beyond limits

And [among those who are not impatient are] those who are true to their trusts and who keep their word

And those who firmly stand by their testimonies

And those who guard their prayer.h

All those shall be the honoured ones in Gardens of Paradise

And what is the matter with those that suppress the Truth that they rush to you

From the right and from the left, in groups

Does everyone of them hope to enter the Garden of Bliss [by following one's own man- made thought]

No, not at all! They know what We have created them from

By no means [can they enter the Garden of Bliss!] I swear by the Lord of the easts and the wests that We certainly are capable

Of replacing them by others better than they. And nothing can hinder Us

Leave them then to their vain talk and to their amusements, till they meet with the Day promised to them —

The Day on which they will come hastily out of their graves, as though they had to run towards their goals

Their eyes downcast and [their bodies] overwhelmed with disgrace! That is the Day they were promised