Muslim World Report

Chapter 70: Ways of Ascent al-Ma arij

Table of Contents

In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful

A questioner questioned the imminent torment
For the disbelievers; none can repel it
From God, Lord of the Ways of Ascent
Unto Him the angels and the Spirit ascend on a Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years

So be patient, with sweet patience
They see it distant
But We see it near

On the Day when the sky will be like molten brass
And the mountains will be like tufted wool
No friend will care about his friend
They will be shown each other

The criminal wishes he would be redeemed from the punishment of that Day by his children
And his spouse, and his brother
And his family that sheltered him
And everyone on earth, in order to save him

By no means!
It is a Raging Fire
It strips away the scalps
It invites him who once turned his back and fled
And accumulated and hoarded

Man was created restless
Touched by adversity, he is fretful
Touched by good, he is ungenerous
Except the prayerful

Those who are constant at their prayers
And those in whose wealth is a rightful share
For the beggar and the deprived
And those who affirm the Day of Judgment
And those who fear the punishment of their Lord
Their Lord’s punishment is not to be taken for granted

And those who guard their chastity
Except from their spouses or those living under their control, for then they are free of blame
But whoever seeks to go beyond that - these are the transgressors

And those who honor their trusts and their pledges
And those who stand by their testimonies
And those who are dedicated to their prayers
These will be honored in Gardens

What is with those who disbelieve, stretching their necks towards you
From the right, and from the left, banding together?
Is every one of them aspiring to be admitted into a Garden of Bliss?

No indeed!
We created them from what they know
I swear by the Lord of the Easts and the Wests, that We are Able
To replace them with better than they, and We are not to be outdone

So leave them to blunder and play, until they meet their Day which they are promised
The Day when they will emerge from the tombs in a rush, as though they were hurrying towards a target
Their eyes cast down; overwhelmed by humiliation
This is the Day which they were promised

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