A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall —
upon the disbelievers, (there is) not, unto it one who can avert (it) —
(since it is coming) from Allah, controller of the ascents
The angels and the Ar-Ruh ascend to Him in an aeon the measure whereof is fifty thousand years
So have patience — a beautiful patience
Verily, they see it (i.e., the torment about to befall) as something extremely remote
while We see it very near
The Day the sky becomes like the superficial flim of boiling oil
and the mountains become like flakes of wool
and does not ask a deeply devoted friend for (his) deeply devoted friend
People would be made to watch one another. The sinner would desire that he may pay a ransom to get rid of the torment that Day by (offering) his sons (in ransom)
and his consort, and his brother
and his kinfolks who sheltered him
and whosoever is on the earth — altogether, then (thus) he may redeem himself
By no means! Surely that (would be) a furiously flaming, blazing Fire —
one that strips off the skin
It (i.e., the blazing Fire invites) that who turned his back (to) and moved away (from Al-Kitab)
and hoarded (wealth) and withheld it (from spending it in accordance with the dictates of his conscience and the Scripture)
Verily, a human being: (as if) he is created impatient
When Ash-shar (harm) touched him, (he is one) who is extremely disturbed
And when Al-Khair (good) touched him, (he is one) who hesitates (himself) and also stops others (from spending it in a desirable way) —
except those who adhere to canonical Prayers
those people who: they are constant in offering their Prayers
and those: in their wealth is a well-known share —
for one who is compelled to ask and that who stands deprived (of the bare needs)
and those who Believe and testify the Day of Accountability and Judgment
and those who: they are ever mindful of the torment of their Nourisher-Sustainer
surely, the torment of their Nourisher-Sustainer (is) not an event that one may feel secure against it
and those who: they, regarding their private sexual parts are protectors —
except unto their wives or ma-malakat-aimanuhum (the women who are given in guardianship of adult males as their wives under a document prepared by the Muslim state) — then surely they are unblamed people
But whosoever sought beyond that then those people: they very ones are those who break the limits
And those: they, regarding the trusts with them, and promises with them, (behave as) those who implement with responsibility
and those — they stand firm on their testimonies (till the judgment in the case)
and those — they, over their Prayers act as guards
such a people would dwell in the Gardens (of Paradise) as honoured people
Then what (is the matter) with those who have disbelieved; in front of you they are those who swiftly move hither and thither (without paying attention to the teachings you propagate)
from the right (side) and from the left side in splinter groups
Does every man of them wish that he may be allowed entry in the Garden of delight
By no means! Verily We, We created them out of that which they know
So nay! I (i.e., Allah) bring as Witness the Rabb (Nourisher-Sustainer) of the easts and the wests. Surely We are, indeed, All-Capable Ones —
over (this) that We replace (them by people) better than them; and We are not those who are outrun
So leave them, they will indulge in vain talk and would play and sport until they have met their Day which they have been promised
The Day they will come out of the burial sites swiftly, as if they hasten on (and race) to a fixed target
their eyes adopting low-down position (in humility, fear and lamentation), ignominy (and disgrace) covers them. This is the Day which they had been promised