A questioner questions punishment that is bound to befall
Those who suppress the Truth. There is none to defend anyone
From Allah, Lord of the [many] ascents
The time taken by the angels and the Spirit to ascend to Him is fifty thousand years [of man's reckoning]
So, (O Prophet), be graciously patient [at the disbelievers' deliberate disbelief]
They do indeed see it [punishment] long in coming
And We see it near
That Day, the sky will be like molten metal
And the mountains will be like wool
And friend will not ask of friend
Although they would be able to see one another. The sinner would like to save himself from the punishment of that Day by offering (even) his children in ransom
And [he would offer] his spouse and his brother
And [he would offer] his kindred who sheltered him
And [he would offer] all all that is on the earth, if only he could thus save himself
But no! The fierce flame of Hell-fire it shall b
That would be stripping their scalds off
It [the Fire] would summon him who had turned away and retreate
And had amassed and hoarded
Man is indeed impatient by nature
When adversity touches him he bewails
And when prosperity touches him, he is begrudging
But those who pray are not [so impatient.
Those that are constant in their prayer
And those in whose wealth there is a known right
For those that beg and for those that are deprived
And [among those who are not impatient are] those who sincerely believe in the Day of Judgment
And those that fear the punishment of their Lord
— There is indeed no security against punishment of their Lord —
And those that guard their chastit
Except from their spouses or from those whom they rightfully possess. For indulging in sex with them, they are, of course, not to be blamed
But whoever seeks to go beyond that — those are the ones that go beyond limits
And [among those who are not impatient are] those who are true to their trusts and who keep their word
And those who firmly stand by their testimonie
And those who guard their prayer.h
All those shall be the honoured ones in Gardens of Paradise
And what is the matter with those that suppress the Truth that they rush to yo
From the right and from the left, in groups
Does everyone of them hope to enter the Garden of Bliss [by following one's own man- made thought]
No, not at all! They know what We have created them from
By no means [can they enter the Garden of Bliss!] I swear by the Lord of the easts and the wests that We certainly are capable
Of replacing them by others better than they. And nothing can hinder Us
Leave them then to their vain talk and to their amusements, till they meet with the Day promised to them —
The Day on which they will come hastily out of their graves, as though they had to run towards their goals
Their eyes downcast and [their bodies] overwhelmed with disgrace! That is the Day they were promised!