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70: The Ascending Stairways, Staircases Upward, Sckeptic

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A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall-

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The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,-

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

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The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years:

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Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment).

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They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event):

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But We see it (quite) near.

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The Day that the sky will be like molten brass,

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And the mountains will be like wool,

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And no friend will ask after a friend,

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Though they will be put in sight of each other,- the sinner's desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children,

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His wife and his brother,

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His kindred who sheltered him,

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And all, all that is on earth,- so it could deliver him:

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By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell!-

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Plucking out (his being) right to the skull!-

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Inviting (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from the Right).

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And collect (wealth) and hide it (from use)!

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Truly man was created very impatient;-

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Fretful when evil touches him;

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And niggardly when good reaches him;-

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Not so those devoted to Prayer;-

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Those who remain steadfast to their prayer;

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And those in whose wealth is a recognised right.

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For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking);

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And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment;

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And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,-

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For their Lord's displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity;-

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And those who guard their chastity,

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Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to be blamed,

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But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors;-

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And those who respect their trusts and covenants;

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And those who stand firm in their testimonies;

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And those who guard (the sacredness) of their worship;-

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Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss).

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Now what is the matter with the Unbelievers that they rush madly before thee-

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From the right and from the left, in crowds?

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Does every man of them long to enter the Garden of Bliss?

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By no means! For We have created them out of the (base matter) they know!

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Now I do call to witness the Lord of all points in the East and the West that We can certainly-

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Substitute for them better (men) than they; And We are not to be defeated (in Our Plan).

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So leave them to plunge in vain talk and play about, until they encounter that Day of theirs which they have been promised!-

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The Day whereon they will issue from their sepulchres in sudden haste as if they were rushing to a goal-post (fixed for them),-

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Their eyes lowered in dejection,- ignominy covering them (all over)! such is the Day the which they are promised!


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