المعارج

Saala sailun biAAathabin waqiAAin

A challenger asked for a punishment bound to come[1]

Lilkafireena laysa lahu dafiAAun

upon the disbelievers, which none can avert,

Mina Allahi thee almaAAariji

from Allah, Lord of the pathways of ascent,

TaAAruju almalaikatu waalrroohu ilayhi fee yawmin kana miqdaruhu khamseena alfa sanatin

by which the angels and the Spirit[2] will ascend to Him on a Day[3] the length of which is fifty thousand years.

Faisbir sabran jameelan

So be patient [O Prophet] with beautiful patience.

Innahum yarawnahu baAAeedan

Indeed, they see this [punishment] far off,

Wanarahu qareeban

but We see it to be close at hand.

Yawma takoonu alssamao kaalmuhli

On the Day when the sky will be like molten brass[4]

Watakoonu aljibalu kaalAAihni

and the mountains will be like dyed wool[5],

Wala yasalu hameemun hameeman

and no close friend will ask about another,

Yubassaroonahum yawaddu almujrimu law yaftadee min AAathabi yawmiithin bibaneehi

even though they will see one another. The wicked will wish he could ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by offering his children,

Wasahibatihi waakheehi

and his wife and his brother,

Wafaseelatihi allatee tuweehi

and his kindred who stood by him,

Waman fee alardi jameeAAan thumma yunjeehi

and everyone on earth, just to save himself.

Kalla innaha latha

By no means![6] It is a raging Flame,

NazzaAAatan lilshshawa

that will strip off the scalps[7].

TadAAoo man adbara watawalla

It will call everyone who turned their backs and disobeyed,

WajamaAAa faawAAa

and amassed and hoarded wealth.

Inna alinsana khuliqa halooAAan

Indeed, man was created impatient:

Itha massahu alshsharru jazooAAan

when evil befalls him, he bewails,

Waitha massahu alkhayru manooAAan

but when good fortune comes his way, he becomes tight-fisted –

Illa almusalleena

except those who pray,

Allatheena hum AAala salatihim daimoona

who are steadfast in their prayers;

Waallatheena fee amwalihim haqqun maAAloomun

and who give a due share[8] of their wealth

Lilssaili waalmahroomi

to the beggar and the dispossessed;

Waallatheena yusaddiqoona biyawmi alddeeni

and who firmly believe in the Day of Judgment;

Waallatheena hum min AAathabi rabbihim mushfiqoona

and those who fear the punishment of their Lord –

Inna AAathaba rabbihim ghayru mamoonin

for none can feel secure from their Lord’s punishment –

Waallatheena hum lifuroojihim hafithoona

and those who guard their private parts[9],

Illa AAala azwajihim aw ma malakat aymanuhum fainnahum ghayru maloomeena

except from their wives or bondwomen[10] whom they own, for then they are not to be blamed.

Famani ibtagha waraa thalika faolaika humu alAAadoona

But whoever seeks beyond that, it is they who are the transgressors.

Waallatheena hum liamanatihim waAAahdihim raAAoona

and those who fulfill their trusts and pledges;

Waallatheena hum bishahadatihim qaimoona

and who are upright in their testimonies;

Waallatheena hum AAala salatihim yuhafithoona

and who take due care of their prayers;

Olaika fee jannatin mukramoona

they will be honored in gardens[11].

Famali allatheena kafaroo qibalaka muhtiAAeena

What is the matter with the disbelievers that they are rushing towards you [O Prophet][12],

AAani alyameeni waAAani alshshimali AAizeena

from the right and from the left, in crowds[13]?

AyatmaAAu kullu imriin minhum an yudkhala jannata naAAeemin

Does everyone of them aspire to enter a garden of bliss?

Kalla inna khalaqnahum mimma yaAAlamoona

By no means! We have created them from what they know[14].

Fala oqsimu birabbi almashariqi waalmagharibi inna laqadiroona

I swear by the Lord of the sunrises and sunsets[15] that We are surely Capable

AAala an nubaddila khayran minhum wama nahnu bimasbooqeena

to replace them with others better than them, and none can escape Our decree.

Fatharhum yakhoodoo wayalAAaboo hatta yulaqoo yawmahumu allathee yooAAadoona

So leave them to engage in their falsehood and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised;

Yawma yakhrujoona mina alajdathi siraAAan kaannahum ila nusubin yoofidoona

the Day when they will rush out of their graves as if they are racing towards an idol[16],

KhashiAAatan absaruhum tarhaquhum thillatun thalika alyawmu allathee kanoo yooAAadoona

with their eyes downcast and overwhelmed with disgrace. That is the Day that they were promised.