The Ascending Stairways

The Koran







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.