Sūra LXX. Ma‘ārij, or the Ways of Ascent.

The Holy Quran, tr. by Yusuf Ali, [1934], at sacred-texts.com

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Sūra LXX.

Ma‘ārij, or the Ways of Ascent.

In the name of God, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful.

1. A questioner asked
About a Penalty
To befall—

2. The Unbelievers,
The which there is none
To ward off,—

3. (A Penalty) from God,
Lord of the Ways
Of Ascent.

4. The angels and
The Spirit ascend
Unto Him in a Day
The measure whereof
Is (as) fifty thousand years:

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5. Therefore do thou hold
Patience,—a Patience
Of beautiful (contentment).

6. They see the (Day) indeed
As a far-off (event):

7. But We see it
(Quite) near.

8. The Day that
The sky will be like
Molten brass,

9. And the mountains will be
Like wool,

10. And no friend will ask
After a friend,

11. Though they will be put
In sight of each other,—
The sinner's desire will be:
Would that he could

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Redeem himself from
The Penalty of that Day
By (sacrificing) his children,

12. His wife and his brother,

13. His kindred who sheltered him,

14. And all, all that is
On earth,—so it could
Deliver him:

15. By no means!
For it would be
The Fire of Hell!—

16. Plucking out (his being)
Right to the skull!—

17. Inviting (all) such
As turn their backs
And turn away their faces
(From the Right),

18. And collect (wealth)
And hide it (from use)!

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19. Truly man was created
Very impatient;—

20. Fretful when evil
Touches him;

21. And niggardly when
Good reaches him;—

22. Not so those devoted
To Prayer;—

23. Those who remain steadfast
To their prayer;

24. And those in whose wealth
Is a recognised right

25. For the (needy) who asks
And him who is prevented
(For some reason from asking);

26. And those who hold
To the truth of the Day
Of Judgment;

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27. And those who fear
The displeasure of their Lord,—

28. For their Lord's displeasure
Is the opposite of Peace
And Tranquillity;—

29. And those who guard
Their chastity,

30. Except with their wives
And the (captives) whom
Their right hands possess,—
For (then) they are not
To be blamed,

31. But those who trespass
Beyond this are transgressors;—

32. And those who respect
Their trusts and covenants;

33. And those who stand firm
In their testimonies;

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34. And those who guard
(The sacredness) of their
worship;—

35. Such will be
The honoured ones
In the Gardens (of Bliss).

SECTION 2.

36. Now what is
The matter with the Unbelievers
That they rush madly
Before thee—

37. From the right
And from the left,
In crowds?

38. Does every man of them
Long to enter
The Garden of Bliss?

39. By no means!
For We have created them
Out of the (base matter)
They know!

40. Now I do
Call to witness

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The Lord of all points
In the East and the West
That We can certainly—

41. Substitute for them
Better (men) than they;
And We are not
To be defeated
(In Our Plan).

42. So leave them
To plunge in vain talk
And play about,
Until they encounter
That Day of theirs which
They have been promised!—

43. The Day whereon
They will issue
From their sepulchres
In sudden haste
As if they were
Rushing to a goal-post
(Fixed for them),—

44. Their eyes lowered
In dejection,
Ignominy covering them
(All over)!
Such is the Day
The which they
Are promised!

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