Chapter 70: Surah Al Ma'arij (Ascending Stairways) - Sheikh Sa'id Abdou

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
70:1 One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall
70:2 The unbelievers-- there is none to avert it--
70:3 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent.
70:4 To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years.
70:5 Therefore endure with a goodly patience.
70:6 Surely they think it to be far off,
70:7 And We see it nigh.
70:8 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper
70:9 And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool
70:10 And friend shall not ask of friend
70:11 (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children,
70:12 And his wife and his brother
70:13 And the nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter,
70:14 And all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him.
70:15 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire
70:16 Dragging by the head,
70:17 It shall claim him who turned and fled (from truth),
70:18 And amasses (wealth) then shuts it up.
70:19 Surely man is created of a hasty temperament
70:20 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him
70:21 And niggardly when good befalls him
70:22 Except those who pray,
70:23 Those who are constant at their prayer
70:24 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion.
70:25 For him who begs and for him who is denied (good)
70:26 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day
70:27 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord--
70:28 Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of--
70:29 And those who guard their private parts,
70:30 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed,
70:31 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits--
70:32 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant
70:33 And those who are upright in their testimonies,
70:34 And those who keep a guard on their prayer,
70:35 Those shall be in gardens, honored.
70:36 But what is the matter with those who disbelieve that they hasten on around you,
70:37 On the right hand and on the left, in sundry parties?
70:38 Does every man of them desire that he should be made to enter the garden of bliss?
70:39 By no means! Surely We have created them of what they know.
70:40 But nay! I swear by the Lord of the Easts and the Wests that We are certainly able
70:41 To bring instead (others) better than them, and We shall not be overcome.
70:42 Therefore leave them alone to go on with the false discourses and to sport until they come face to face with that day of theirs with which they are threatened;
70:43 The day on which they shall come forth from their graves in haste, as if they were hastening on to a goal,
70:44 Their eyes cast down; disgrace shall overtake them; that is the day which they were threatened with.