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70. THE ASCENDING STAIRWAYS
(AL-MA‘ARIJ)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
1 A doubter once demanded that 15 But no! There is a raging
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punishment be immediately blaze stripping away his skin,
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meted out, to those who deny 17 and it will claim all those who
the truth. No power can hinder turned their backs [on the true
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God from punishing them. He faith] and turned away [from the
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is the Lord of the Ascending truth], and amassed wealth and
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Stairways, by which the angels hoarded it. Indeed, man is born
and the Spirit will ascend to Him impatient: 20 when misfortune
in one Day which will last for touches him he starts lamenting,
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fifty thousand years. Therefore, 21 and whenever good fortune
[O believers] behave with seemly comes to him, he grows
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patience. They see it [the Day niggardly. 22 But not so the
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of Judgement] to be far off, but worshippers who are steadfast
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We see it near at hand. On that in prayer; 24 those who give a
Day the heavens shall become like due share of their wealth 25 to
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molten brass, and the mountains those who ask [for help] and to
will become like tufts of wool, the destitute; 26 and those who
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and no friend will ask about believe in the Day of Judgement
his friend, 11 though they shall 27 and are fearful of the
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be within sight of each other. punishment of their Lord; for
The guilty one will gladly ransom none may ever feel secure from
himself from the torment of that the punishment of their Lord;
Day by sacrificing his own 29 those who preserve their
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children, his wife, his brother, chastity 30 except from their
13 and his kinsfolk who gave him spouses and those whom they
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shelter, and all the people of the rightfully possess [through
earth, if that could deliver him. wedlock], for which they incur