English - Chapter 70 - Al-Maarij

A SCEPTIC² once demanded that punishment be visited

forthwith upon the unbelievers. No power can hinder

God from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Stairways

whereby the angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him in one day whose space is fifty thousand years

Therefore conduct yourself with becoming patience

They think the Day of Judgement is far off

but We see it near at hand

On that day the sky shall become like molten brass

and the mountains like tufts of wool scattered in the wind

No bosom friend shall ask a bosom friend when eye meets eye

To redeem himself from the torment of that day the sinner will gladly sacrifice his children

his consort, his brother

the kin who gave him shelter

and all that are on the earth, if then this might deliver him

But no! The fire of Hell

shall drag him down by the scalp

shall claim him who had turned his back

and amassed riches and covetously hoarded them

Indeed, man was created impatient

When evil befalls him he is despondent

but, blessed with good fortune, he grows niggardly

Not so the worshippers

who are steadfast in prayer

who set aside a due portion of their wealth

for the beggar and for the dispossessed

who truly believe in the Day of Reckoning

and dread the punishment of their Lord

for none is secure from the punishment of their Lord

who restrain their carnal desire

save with their wives and slave-girls, for with these they are blameless

transgressors are those who lust after other than these

who keep their trusts and promises

and bear true witness

and who attend to their prayers with promptitude

These shall be laden with honours, in fair Gardens

But what has befallen the unbelievers, that they scramble towards you

in multitudes from right and left

Are they each seeking to enter a Garden of Delight

No! Of what We created them they know full well

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

to replace them by others better than they: nothing can hinder us from so doing

So let them paddle, let them play until they face the day they are promised

the day when they shall rush headlong from their graves

like men rallying to a standard, with downcast eyes and countenances distorted and abject. Such is the day they are promised