Surah 70

A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall

Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert,

From Allâh, the Lord of the ways of ascent.

The angels and the Rûh [Jibrîl (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years.

So be patient (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), with a good patience.

Verily, they see it (the torment) afar off.

But We see it (quite) near.

The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead).

And the mountains will be like flakes of wool.

And no friend will ask a friend (about his condition),

Though they shall be made to see one another [(i.e. on the Day of Resurrection), there will be none but see his father, children and relatives, but he will neither speak to them nor will ask them for any help]. The Mujrim, (criminal, sinner, disbeliever) would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children,

And his wife and his brother,

And his kindred who sheltered him,

And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him.[1]

By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell,

Taking away (burning completely) the head skin!

Calling[2] (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from Faith) [picking and swallowing them up from that great gathering of mankind on the Day of Resurrection just as a bird picks up a food-grain from the earth with its beak and swallows it up] (Tafsir Al-Qurtubî)

And collect (wealth) and hide it (from spending it in the Cause of Allâh).

Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient;

Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him;