Sura 70: The Heights
(Al-Ma‘aarej)
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

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سال سائل بعذاب واقع

A questioner may question the inevitable retribution.

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للكافرين ليس له دافع

For the disbelievers, none can stop it.

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من الله ذي المعارج

From GOD; Possessor of the highest Height.

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تعرج الملائكة والروح اليه في يوم كان مقداره خمسين الف سنة

The angels, with their reports, climb to Him in a day that equals fifty thousand years.

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فاصبر صبرا جميلا

Therefore, you shall resort to a gracious patience.

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انهم يرونه بعيدا

For they see it far away.

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ونراه قريبا

While we see it very close.

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يوم تكون السماء كالمهل

The day will come when the sky will be like molten rocks.

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وتكون الجبال كالعهن

The mountains will be like fluffy wool.

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ولا يسال حميم حميما

No friend will care about his close friend.

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يبصرونهم يود المجرم لو يفتدي من عذاب يومئذ ببنيه

When they see them, the guilty will wish he could give his own children as ransom, to spare him the retribution of that day.

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وصاحبته واخيه

Also his spouse, and his brother.

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وفصيلته التي تؤويه

Even his whole tribe that raised him.

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ومن في الارض جميعا ثم ينجيه

Even all the people on earth, if it would save him.

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كلا انها لظى

No; it is aflame.

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نزاعة للشوى

Eager to burn.

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تدعو من ادبر وتولى

It calls on those who turned away.

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وجمع فاوعى

Those who hoarded and counted.

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ان الانسان خلق هلوعا

Indeed, the human being is anxious.

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اذا مسه الشر جزوعا

If touched by adversity, despondent.

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واذا مسه الخير منوعا

If blessed by wealth, stingy.

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الا المصلين

Except for the worshipers.

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الذين هم على صلاتهم دائمون

Who always observe their contact prayers (Salat).

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والذين في اموالهم حق معلوم

Part of their money is set aside.

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للسائل والمحروم

For the poor and the needy.

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والذين يصدقون بيوم الدين

They believe in the Day of Judgment.

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والذين هم من عذاب ربهم مشفقون

They reverence their Lord’s requital.

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ان عذاب ربهم غير مامون

Their Lord’s requital is not taken for granted.

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والذين هم لفروجهم حافظون

They keep their chastity.

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الا على ازواجهم او ما ملكت ايمانهم فانهم غير ملومين

(They have relations) only with their spouses, or what is legally theirs—

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فمن ابتغى وراء ذلك فاولئك هم العادون

anyone who transgresses these limits is a sinner.

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والذين هم لاماناتهم وعهدهم راعون

And the believers keep their word; they are trustworthy.

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والذين هم بشهاداتهم قائمون

Their testimony is truthful.

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والذين هم على صلاتهم يحافظون

They consistently observe their contact prayers (Salat) on time.

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اولئك في جنات مكرمون

They have deserved a position of honor in Paradise.

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فمال الذين كفروا قبلك مهطعين

What is keeping those who disbelieved from joining you?

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عن اليمين وعن الشمال عزين

To the right, and to the left, they flee.

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ايطمع كل امرئ منهم ان يدخل جنة نعيم

How can any of them expect to enter the blissful Paradise?

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كلا انا خلقناهم مما يعلمون

Never; we created them, and they know from what.

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فلا اقسم برب المشارق والمغارب انا لقادرون

I solemnly swear by the Lord of the easts and the wests; we are able—

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على ان نبدل خيرا منهم وما نحن بمسبوقين

to substitute better people in your place; we can never be defeated.

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فذرهم يخوضوا ويلعبوا حتى يلاقوا يومهم الذي يوعدون

Therefore, let them blunder and play, until they meet the day that is awaiting them.

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يوم يخرجون من الاجداث سراعا كانهم الى نصب يوفضون

That is the day they come out of the graves in a hurry, as if herded to the (sacrificial) altars.

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خاشعة ابصارهم ترهقهم ذلة ذلك اليوم الذي كانوا يوعدون

With their eyes subdued, shame will cover them. That is the day that is awaiting them.

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