The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
۞ ALIF LAM RA. These are the verses of the Book and the perspicuous oration. 1 And it will come to pass that those who are [now] bent on denying this truth will wish that they had surrendered themselves to God [in their life time]. 2 so leave them to eat and enjoy themselves and let them be beguiled by vain hopes; for soon they will realise [the truth]. 3 We never destroyed any town without pre-ordaining the fate of its people. 4 No people can outstrip the term for its destruction nor can it delay it. 5 They say: "O you to whom the Admonition has been revealed, you are surely crazed. 6 Why do you not bring down the angels upon us, if you are truthful?" 7 We do not send down the angels except with truth; and the disbelievers would not then be reprieved. 8 Behold, it is We Ourselves who have bestowed from on high, step by step, this reminder; and behold, it is We who shall truly guard it [from all corruption]. 9 We had also sent apostles to people of earlier persuasions. 10 And never does a Noble Messenger come to them, but they mock at him. 11 This is how We make the mocking* enter the hearts of the guilty. (* The acts of disbelief.) 12 They would not believe in it (the Quran), and already the example of (Allah's punishment of) the ancients (who disbelieved) has gone forth. 13 Though We opened to them a gate in heaven, and still they mounted through it, 14 They would surely say: "Our eyes have been (as if) dazzled. Nay, we are a people bewitched." 15