70

1A man [mockingly] demanded the punishment

2It will fall on the disbelievers––none can deflect it––

3from God, the Lord of the Ways of Ascent

4by which the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him, on a Day whose length is fifty thousand years

5So be patient, [Prophet], as befits you

6The disbelievers think it is distant

7but We know it to be close

8On a Day when the heavens will be like molten brass

9and the mountains like tufts of wool

10when no friend will ask about his friend

11even when they are within sight of one another. The guilty person will wish he could save himself from the suffering of that Day by sacrificing his sons

12his spouse, his brother

13the kinsfolk who gave him shelter

14and everyone on earth, if it could save him

15But no! There is a raging flame

16that strips away the skin

17and it will claim everyone who rejects the truth, turns away

18amasses wealth and hoards it

19Man was truly created anxious

20he is fretful when misfortune touches him

21but tight-fisted when good fortune comes his way

22Not so those who pray

23and are constant in their prayers

24who give a due share of their wealth

25to beggars and the deprived

26who believe in the Day of Judgement

27and fear the punishment of their Lord––

28none may feel wholly secure from it––

29who guard their chastity

30from all but their spouses or their slave-girls––there is no blame attached to [relations with] these

31but those whose desires exceed this limit are truly transgressors––

32who are faithful to their trusts and their pledges

33who give honest testimony

34and are steadfast in their prayers

35They will be honoured in Gardens of bliss

36What is wrong with the disbelievers? Why do they rush to peer at you [Prophet]

37from right and left, in crowds

38Does every one of them expect to enter a Garden of bliss

39No! We created them from the substance they know

40and, by the Lord of every sunrise and sunset, We have the power

41to substitute for them others better than they are- nothing can prevent Us from doing this

42So leave them to wallow in idle talk, until they come face to face with their promised Day

43the Day they will rush out of their graves as if rallying to a flag

44eyes downcast and covered in shame: that is the Day of which they were warned