70al-Ma‘ārijThe Means for Ascentسُورَةُ المعارج

An inquirer [in a cynical or confronting manner] asked about the affliction that is happening [in due time];

As concerns the God-deniers, it [that infliction] has no deterrent,

[For, in fact, it comes] from Allah, to whom there are many means of upward access:

The malā’ikah and the spirit of life ascend to Him during a day reckoned to be fifty thousand years [in this earthly scale of time].

Hence, be patient — [with] a decorous patience:

Behold, they [who are withdrawn from Us] reckon that it [the Day of Judgement] is remote [and improbable] —

But We see it near [and in the offing]!

[When the Final Day arrives] that period of time will have a sky similar to liquescent oil,

And the mountains will be akin to tassels of wool,

And no bosom buddy will ask about [his] bosom buddy,

Even when they are made to look at each other [eye to eye]: [for] the criminal [who doubted his own resurrection] on that Day would wish to redeem himself from the infliction by [offering] his own children [the pride of his life],

And [offering] his [lifetime] marital companion, and his brother [also],

And [offering] his kin and clan who used to accommodate him,

And [he would offer] anyone else living on earth so that he could escape [the infliction due to him because of his offensive and malicious crimes on earth].

Certainly none of that [will redeem him]! It is a flame of fire [that awaits such guilty individuals],

Zipping away the flesh [of God-deniers]!

It will draw in everyone who is turning his back and turning away [in an attempt to escape this due punishment],

[The likes of he] who accumulated wealth [without spending and distributing it to the poor and needy] and stockpiled in safe boxes [his assets and surpluses, having no consideration for what Allah had said about wealth and capital].

Without doubt, the social being has been created with a penchant for impatience.

[In that regard], whenever he is touched with misfortune, he becomes distressed [and distraught, not able to honor his higher responsibilities];

And whenever he is touched by good fortune, he becomes tightfisted [and possessive].

The exception [to such a disposition] are those in communion [with Allah],

Who are persistent [and assiduous] in their ṣalāh — attending to [its responsibilities] cons- tantly;

And in whose wealth there is a due right [apportioned to those in need],

For a person who asks [because of poverty] or who is denied [because of scarcity];

And who affirm the [coming of the] Day of Dīn;

And who are overawed of their Sustainer’s affliction —

For, behold, the affliction of their Sustainer cannot be taken for granted;

And who restrain their sex drive [from promiscuity],

[Having no sex] except with their spouses or those in their honorable family care [through consensual marriage] — for then, behold, they are not culpable —

Whereas all who seek [erotic] relationships beyond that [definition] are truly offenders;

And who honor their trusts and their pledges;

And who keep to their testimonies;

And who are keen on carrying out their ṣalāh:

Those are the ones who will be honored in gardens [of eternal bliss]!

What is it with the God-deniers [whose worldly ambitions have stalled because of you, O Prophet] as they scurry around you, fixated on you,

[Darting about] in cliques from the right and from the left?

Is it each one’s goal to enter [by this artifice] a paradise of bliss?

Certainly not! For, behold, We have created them out of what they cannot ignore [origins, constituents, and features].

I, [the Most High], affirm [that I am] the Sustainer of the multiple rising of planets above the horizon and the multiple submerging of planets below the horizon: [therefore] We are well able

To replace them [the God-deniers] with [people who are] better than they; for there is nothing to preempt Us [from doing that].

Hence, dissociate from them while they talk nonsense and distract themselves [from this message], even if that means they continue to do so until they confront their Day [of accountability], which they have been promised —

The Day when they will hurriedly exit their burial chambers, as if racing toward a goalpost,

With disheartened stares, ignominy weighing down on them. That is the Day they were assured of [over and over again].