A Meccan sura that describes the Day of Judgement (verses 8–18). One of the opponents of the Prophet challenged him to hasten the punishment they had been threatened with (verse 1), so the foolishness of the disbelievers in denying the Resurrection (verse 6) is exposed (verses 36–44). The people who will be granted the Garden are described (verses 22–35). The title is a reference to the paths through which angels ascend to God, mentioned in verses 3–4.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
The Truth About The Hereafter
1 A man [mockingly] demanded the punishment. 2 It will fall on the disbelievers––none can deflect it–– 3 from God, the Lord of the Ways of Ascent, 4 by which the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him, on a Day whose length is fifty thousand years. 5 So be patient, [Prophet], as befits you. 6 The disbelievers think it is distant, 7 but We know it to be close. 8 On a Day when the heavens will be like molten brass 9 and the mountains like tufts of wool, 10 when no friend will ask about his friend, 11 even 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, 12 his spouse, his brother, 13 the kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 14 and everyone on earth, if it could save him. 15 But no! There is a raging flame 16 that strips away the skin, 17 and it will claim everyone who rejects the truth, turns away, 18 amasses wealth and hoards it.
19 Man was truly created anxious: 20 he is fretful when misfortune touches him, 21 but tight-fisted when good fortune comes his way. 22 Not so those who pray 23 and are constant in their prayers; 24 who give a due share of their wealth 25 to beggars and the deprived; 26 who believe in the Day of Judgement 27 and fear the punishment of their Lord–– 28 none may feel wholly secure from it–– 29 who guard their chastity 30 from all but their spouses or their slave-girls––there is no blame attached to [relations with] these, 31 but those whose desires exceed this limit are truly transgressors–– 32 who are faithful to their trusts and their pledges; 33 who give honest testimony 34 and are steadfast in their prayers. 35 They will be honored in Gardens of bliss.
The Unbelievers’ Attitude
36 What is wrong with the disbelievers? Why do they rush to peer at you [Prophet], 37 from right and left, in crowds? 38 Does every one of them expect to enter a Garden of bliss? 39 No! We created them from the substance they know, [a] 40 and, by the Lord of every sunrise and sunset, We have the power 41 to substitute for them others better than they are– nothing can prevent Us from doing this. 42 So leave them to wallow in idle talk, until they come face to face with their promised Day, 43 the Day they will rush out of their graves as if rallying to a flag, 44 eyes downcast and covered in shame: that is the Day of which they were warned.
Footnotes
a. They deny the Resurrection, and this points out to them that God has the power to create them from such a small beginning and that He can bring about the Resurrection. Cf. 56: 56–62.
The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
The Qur'an / a new translation by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem, copyright © 2004 Oxford World's Classics (Oxford University Press). Used by permission. All rights reserved.