The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the Book and (of) a Quran that makes (things) clear. 1 Again and again will those who disbelieve, wish that they had bowed (to Allah's will) in Islam. 2 Leave them to eat and enjoy, and let them be preoccupied with (false) hope. They will come to know! 3 Never a city have We destroyed, but it had a known decree, 4 No people can hasten on their doom nor can they postpone (it). 5 And they say: O thou unto whom the admonition hath been sent down! verily thou art possessed. 6 Why dost thou not bring before us angels, if thou art a man of truth? 7 [Yet] We never send down angels otherwise than in accordance with the [demands of] truth; and [were the angels to appear now,] lo! they [who reject this divine writ] would have no further respite! 8 Indeed We have sent down the Qur’an, and indeed We Ourselves surely are its Guardians. (This is one of the miracles of the Qur’an – no one has been able to change even one letter of its text, despite every effort. It has remained in its original form since the 6th Century (A. D) and will remain so forever. Other Holy Books such as the Torah and the Bible have lost their originality.) 9 And We had certainly sent [messengers] before you, [O Muhammad], among the sects of the former peoples. 10 but there was never a messenger who came to them but they mocked him: 11 even so We cause it to enter into the hearts of the sinners -- 12 They do not believe in it even though the practice of the ancients has already gone. 13 Yet even had We opened to them a gateway to heaven and they had ascended, on and on, up to it, 14 They would certainly say: Only our eyes have been covered over, rather we are an enchanted people. 15