70. The Ways Of Ascent

A questioner asked about a Penalty tobefall-

The Unbelievers, the which there is noneto ward off,-

(A Penalty) from Allah, Lord of the Waysof Ascent.

The angels and the spirit ascend untohim in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years:

Therefore do thou hold Patience,- aPatience of beautiful (contentment).

They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off(event):

But We see it (quite) near.

The Day that the sky will be like moltenbrass,

And the mountains will be like wool,

And no friend will ask after a friend,

Though they will be put in sight of eachother,- the sinner’s desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself fromthe Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children,

His wife and his brother,

His kindred who sheltered him,

And all, all that is on earth,- so itcould deliver him:

By no means! for it would be the Fire ofHell!-

Plucking out (his being) right to theskull!-

Inviting (all) such as turn their backsand turn away their faces (from the Right).

And collect (wealth) and hide it (fromuse)!

Truly man was created very impatient;-

Fretful when evil touches him;

And niggardly when good reaches him;-

Not so those devoted to Prayer;-

Those who remain steadfast to theirprayer;

And those in whose wealth is arecognised right.

For the (needy) who asks and him who isprevented (for some reason from asking);

And those who hold to the truth of theDay of Judgment;

And those who fear the displeasure oftheir Lord,-

For their Lord’s displeasure is theopposite of Peace and Tranquillity;-

And those who guard their chastity,

Except with their wives and the(captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to beblamed,

But those who trespass beyond this aretransgressors;-

And those who respect their trusts andcovenants;

And those who stand firm in theirtestimonies;

And those who guard (the sacredness) oftheir worship;-

Such will be the honoured ones in theGardens (of Bliss).

Now what is the matter with theUnbelievers that they rush madly before thee-

From the right and from the left, incrowds?

Does every man of them long to enter theGarden of Bliss?

By no means! For We have created themout of the (base matter) they know!

Now I do call to witness the Lord of allpoints in the East and the West that We can certainly-

Substitute for them better (men) thanthey; And We are not to be defeated (in Our Plan).

So leave them to plunge in vain talk andplay about, until they encounter that Day of theirs which they have beenpromised!-

The Day whereon they will issue fromtheir sepulchres in sudden haste as if they were rushing to a goal-post(fixed for them),-

Their eyes lowered in dejection,-ignominy covering them (all over)! such is the Day the which they arepromised!