— 44 verses
A questioner asked for the torment which is sure to come about
Upon the disbelievers, which no one can repel
(That will befall) from Allah, Who is the Lord of the Ascending Steps to Heaven (and of the higher ranks and grades of spiritual hierarchy)
The angels and al-Ruh al-Amin (the Spirit) rise towards His (Throne) in a Day which measures fifty thousand years (according to the worldly scale).
So, (O Beloved,) observe patience (on the assertions of the disbelievers) without regrets
Surely, they imagine that (Day) to be far off
But We see it very near
On that Day the sky will become like molten copper
And the mountains like (flakes of) coloured wool
And no friend will enquire after his friend
(Though) they will be shown (to one another). The sinner would desire to ransom himself from the torment of that Day by his children
And (by giving) his wife and his brother
And (all) his family who used to provide him shelter
And all the people on earth (as recompense for himself), so that this (atonement) may save him from (Allah’s torment)
But no! By no means! Surely, that is a Flaming Fire
Stripping off the skin of all the limbs and the scalp
It is calling him who turned his back (on the truth) and turned away
And (he who) accumulated wealth and then held it (from distribution)
Surely, man has been created impatient and greedy
He gets upset and worried when some hardship (or financial loss) afflicts him
But becomes miserly when he receives good fortune (or affluence)
Except for those who offer Prayer
And are constant in their Prayer
And those (who are committed to sacrifice and) in whose wealth there is a fixed share
Of one who begs and of one who is needy but does not beg
And those who affirm the Day of Requital
And those who fear the torment of their Lord
Surely, the torment of their Lord is not a thing which should not be feared
And those who safeguard their private parts
Except from their wives or the female slaves they possess. So (in this) there is no blame on them
But he who looks for more than that, then it is they who transgress the limits
And those who safeguard their trusts and promises
And those who stand firm on their testimonies
And those who safeguard their Prayers
It is they who will enjoy great honour and respect in the Gardens
So what is the matter with the disbelievers that they are coming towards you running
From the right as well as the left, in groups
Does every one of them hope that he may be admitted to the Garden of Bliss (without faith and deeds)
Certainly not! Surely, We have created them from a substance which they (also) know
So I swear by the Lord of the easts and the wests that surely We have Absolute Power
To replace them with people better than them and We are not at all incapable (of doing it)
So leave them occupied with their absurd talk and pastime until they meet that Day of theirs which they have been promised
The Day when they will come forth from their graves in haste as if they are running towards the temples of their idols
(Their plight) will be that their eyes will be cast down (with shame and fear) and disgrace enveloping them. It is this Day which they were promised