The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/70. The Ways of Ascent

70. The Ways of Ascent (Al-Ma'arij)

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

¹ A questioner asks about the chastisement to befall

² The disbelievers -- there is none to avert it --

³ From Allah, Lord of the ways of Ascent.

⁴ To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years.

⁵ So be patient with a goodly patience.

⁶ Surely they see it far off,

⁷ And We see it nigh.

⁸ The day when the heaven is as molten brass,

⁹ And the mountains are as wool;

¹⁰ And no friend will ask of friend,

¹¹ (Though) they are made to see them. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by his children,

¹² And his wife and his brother,

¹³ And his kin that gave him shelter,

¹⁴ And all that are in the earth -- then deliver him --

¹⁵ By no means! Surely it is a flaming Fire,

¹⁶ Plucking out the extremities --

¹⁷ It shall claim him who retreats and turns his back,

¹⁸ And hoards then withholds.

¹⁹ Surely man is created impatient --

²⁰ Fretful when evil afflicts him,

²¹ And niggardly when good befalls him --

²² Except those who pray,

²³ Who are constant at their prayer,

²⁴ And in whose wealth there is a known right

²⁵ For the beggar and the destitute,

²⁶ And those who accept the truth of the day of Judgment:

²⁷ And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord --

²⁸ Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure from --

²⁹ And those who restrain their sexual passions,

³⁰ Except in the presence of their mates or those whom their right hands possess -- for such surely are not to be blamed,

³¹ But he who seeks to go beyond this, these are the transgressors.

³² And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant,

³³ And those who are upright in their testimonies,

³⁴ And those who keep a guard on their prayer.

³⁵ These are in Gardens, honoured.

* * *

³⁶ But what is the matter with those who disbelieve, that they hasten on to thee,

³⁷ On the right hand and on the left, in sundry parties?

³⁸ Does every man of them desire to be admitted to the Garden of bliss?

³⁹ By no means! Surely We have created them for what they know.

⁴⁰ But nay I swear by the Lord of the Eastern lands and the Western lands that We are certainly Powerful

⁴¹ To bring in their place (others) better than them, and We shall not be overcome.

⁴² So leave them alone to plunge in vain talk and to sport, until they come face to face with that day of theirs which they are promised --

⁴³ The day when they come forth from the graves in haste, as hastening on to a goal,

⁴⁴ Their eyes cast down, disgrace covering them. Such is the day which they are promised.