070.001 A questioner questioned concerning the doom about to fall
070.002 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel,
070.003 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways
070.004 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years.
070.005 But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see.
070.006 Lo! they behold it afar off
070.007 While we behold it nigh:
070.008 The day when the sky will become as molten copper,
070.009 And the hills become as flakes of wool,
070.010 And no familiar friend will ask a question of his friend
070.011 Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children
070.012 And his spouse and his brother
070.013 And his kin that harboured him
070.014 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him.
070.015 But nay! for lo! it is the fire of hell
070.016 Eager to roast;
070.017 It calleth him who turned and fled (from truth),
070.018 And hoarded (wealth) and withheld it.
070.019 Lo! man was created anxious,
070.020 Fretful when evil befalleth him
070.021 And, when good befalleth him, grudging;
070.022 Save worshippers.
070.023 Who are constant at their worship
070.024 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged
070.025 For the beggar and the destitute;
070.026 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment,
070.027 And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom -
070.028 Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure -
070.029 And those who preserve their chastity
070.030 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy;
070.031 But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors;
070.032 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant,
070.033 And those who stand by their testimony
070.034 And those who are attentive at their worship.
070.035 These will dwell in Gardens, honoured.
070.036 What aileth those who disbelieve, that they keep staring toward thee (O Muhammad), open-eyed,
070.037 On the right and on the left, in groups ?
070.038 Doth every man among them hope to enter the Garden of Delight ?
070.039 Nay, verily. Lo! We created them from what they know.
070.040 But nay! I swear by the Lord of the rising-places and the setting-places of the planets that We verily are Able
070.041 To replace them by (others) better than them. And we are not to be outrun.
070.042 So let them chat and play until they meet their Day which they are promised,
070.043 The day when they come forth from the graves in haste, as racing to a goal,
070.044 With eyes aghast, abasement stupefying them: Such is the Day which they are promised.