| | N J Dawood (2014) rendition of Surah The Ascending Stairways, The Ladders(al-Ma`arij)
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| 70:1 | | A SCEPTIC² once demanded that punishment be visite |
| 70:2 | | forthwith upon the unbelievers. No power can hinde |
| 70:3 | | God from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Stairways |
| 70:4 | | whereby the angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him in one day whose space is fifty thousand years |
| 70:5 | | Therefore conduct yourself with becoming patience |
| 70:6 | | They think the Day of Judgement is far off |
| 70:7 | | but We see it near at hand |
| 70:8 | | On that day the sky shall become like molten brass |
| 70:9 | | and the mountains like tufts of wool scattered in the wind |
| 70:10 | | No bosom friend shall ask a bosom friend when eye meets eye |
| 70:11 | | To redeem himself from the torment of that day the sinner will gladly sacrifice his children |
| 70:12 | | his consort, his brother |
| 70:13 | | the kin who gave him shelter |
| 70:14 | | and all that are on the earth, if then this might deliver him |
| 70:15 | | But no! The fire of Hel |
| 70:16 | | shall drag him down by the scalp |
| 70:17 | | shall claim him who had turned his bac |
| 70:18 | | and amassed riches and covetously hoarded them |
| 70:19 | | Indeed, man was created impatient |
| 70:20 | | When evil befalls him he is despondent |
| 70:21 | | but, blessed with good fortune, he grows niggardly |
| 70:22 | | Not so the worshippers |
| 70:23 | | who are steadfast in prayer |
| 70:24 | | who set aside a due portion of their wealt |
| 70:25 | | for the beggar and for the dispossessed |
| 70:26 | | who truly believe in the Day of Reckoning |
| 70:27 | | and dread the punishment of their Lor |
| 70:28 | | (for none is secure from the punishment of their Lord) |
| 70:29 | | who restrain their carnal desir |
| 70:30 | | (save with their wives and slave-girls, for with these they are blameless |
| 70:31 | | transgressors are those who lust after other than these) |
| 70:32 | | who keep their trusts and promise |
| 70:33 | | and bear true witness |
| 70:34 | | and who attend to their prayers with promptitude |
| 70:35 | | These shall be laden with honours, in fair Gardens |
| 70:36 | | But what has befallen the unbelievers, that they scramble towards yo |
| 70:37 | | in multitudes from right and left |
| 70:38 | | Are they each seeking to enter a Garden of Delight |
| 70:39 | | No! Of what We created them they know full well |
| 70:40 | | I swear by the Lord of the easts and of the wests that We have the powe |
| 70:41 | | to replace them by others better than they: nothing can hinder us from so doing |
| 70:42 | | So let them paddle, let them play until they face the day they are promised |
| 70:43 | | the day when they shall rush headlong from their graves |
| 70:44 | | like men rallying to a standard, with downcast eyes and countenances distorted and abject. Such is the day they are promised |
