Surah 70: The Heights (Al-Ma`arij)

سَأَلَ سائِلٌ بِعَذابٍ واقِعٍ

A questioner may question the inevitable retribution.

لِلكٰفِرينَ لَيسَ لَهُ دافِعٌ

For the disbelievers, none can stop it.

مِنَ اللَّهِ ذِى المَعارِجِ

From God; Possessor of the highest Height.

تَعرُجُ المَلٰئِكَةُ وَالرّوحُ إِلَيهِ فى يَومٍ كانَ مِقدارُهُ خَمسينَ أَلفَ سَنَةٍ

The angels, with their reports, climb to Him in a day that equals fifty thousand years.

فَاصبِر صَبرًا جَميلًا

Therefore, you shall resort to a gracious patience.

إِنَّهُم يَرَونَهُ بَعيدًا

For they see it far away.

وَنَرىٰهُ قَريبًا

While we see it very close.

يَومَ تَكونُ السَّماءُ كَالمُهلِ

The day will come when the sky will be like molten rocks.

وَتَكونُ الجِبالُ كَالعِهنِ

The mountains will be like fluffy wool.

وَلا يَسـَٔلُ حَميمٌ حَميمًا

No friend will care about his close friend.

يُبَصَّرونَهُم يَوَدُّ المُجرِمُ لَو يَفتَدى مِن عَذابِ يَومِئِذٍ بِبَنيهِ

When they see them, the guilty will wish he could give his own children as ransom, to spare him the retribution of that day.

وَصٰحِبَتِهِ وَأَخيهِ

Also his spouse, and his brother.

وَفَصيلَتِهِ الَّتى تُـٔويهِ

Even his whole tribe that raised him.

وَمَن فِى الأَرضِ جَميعًا ثُمَّ يُنجيهِ

Even all the people on earth, if it would save him.

كَلّا إِنَّها لَظىٰ

No; it is aflame.

نَزّاعَةً لِلشَّوىٰ

Eager to burn.

تَدعوا مَن أَدبَرَ وَتَوَلّىٰ

It calls on those who turned away.

وَجَمَعَ فَأَوعىٰ

Those who hoarded and counted.

إِنَّ الإِنسٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلوعًا

Indeed, the human being is anxious.

إِذا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزوعًا

If touched by adversity, despondent.

وَإِذا مَسَّهُ الخَيرُ مَنوعًا

If blessed by wealth, stingy.

إِلَّا المُصَلّينَ

Except for the worshipers.

الَّذينَ هُم عَلىٰ صَلاتِهِم دائِمونَ

Who always observe their contact prayers (Salat).

وَالَّذينَ فى أَموٰلِهِم حَقٌّ مَعلومٌ

Part of their money is set aside.

لِلسّائِلِ وَالمَحرومِ

For the poor and the needy.

وَالَّذينَ يُصَدِّقونَ بِيَومِ الدّينِ

They believe in the Day of Judgment.

وَالَّذينَ هُم مِن عَذابِ رَبِّهِم مُشفِقونَ

They reverence their Lord's requital.

إِنَّ عَذابَ رَبِّهِم غَيرُ مَأمونٍ

Their Lord's requital is not taken for granted.

وَالَّذينَ هُم لِفُروجِهِم حٰفِظونَ

They keep their chastity.

إِلّا عَلىٰ أَزوٰجِهِم أَو ما مَلَكَت أَيمٰنُهُم فَإِنَّهُم غَيرُ مَلومينَ

(They have relations) only with their spouses, or what is legally theirs -

فَمَنِ ابتَغىٰ وَراءَ ذٰلِكَ فَأُولٰئِكَ هُمُ العادونَ

anyone who transgresses these limits is a sinner.

وَالَّذينَ هُم لِأَمٰنٰتِهِم وَعَهدِهِم رٰعونَ

And the believers keep their word; they are trustworthy.

وَالَّذينَ هُم بِشَهٰدٰتِهِم قائِمونَ

Their testimony is truthful.

وَالَّذينَ هُم عَلىٰ صَلاتِهِم يُحافِظونَ

They consistently observe their contact prayers (Salat) on time.

أُولٰئِكَ فى جَنّٰتٍ مُكرَمونَ

They have deserved a position of honor in Paradise.

فَمالِ الَّذينَ كَفَروا قِبَلَكَ مُهطِعينَ

What is keeping those who disbelieved from joining you?

عَنِ اليَمينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمالِ عِزينَ

To the right, and to the left, they flee.

أَيَطمَعُ كُلُّ امرِئٍ مِنهُم أَن يُدخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعيمٍ

How can any of them expect to enter the blissful Paradise?

كَلّا إِنّا خَلَقنٰهُم مِمّا يَعلَمونَ

Never; we created them, and they know from what.

فَلا أُقسِمُ بِرَبِّ المَشٰرِقِ وَالمَغٰرِبِ إِنّا لَقٰدِرونَ

I solemnly swear by the Lord of the easts and the wests; we are able -

عَلىٰ أَن نُبَدِّلَ خَيرًا مِنهُم وَما نَحنُ بِمَسبوقينَ

to substitute better people in your place; we can never be defeated.

فَذَرهُم يَخوضوا وَيَلعَبوا حَتّىٰ يُلٰقوا يَومَهُمُ الَّذى يوعَدونَ

Therefore, let them blunder and play, until they meet the day that is awaiting them.

يَومَ يَخرُجونَ مِنَ الأَجداثِ سِراعًا كَأَنَّهُم إِلىٰ نُصُبٍ يوفِضونَ

That is the day they come out of the graves in a hurry, as if herded to the (sacrificial) altars.

خٰشِعَةً أَبصٰرُهُم تَرهَقُهُم ذِلَّةٌ ذٰلِكَ اليَومُ الَّذى كانوا يوعَدونَ

With their eyes subdued, shame will cover them. That is the day that is awaiting them.