The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verses of the Scripture and a plain Reading. 1 It could be that those who disbelieve will wish that they were Muslims. 2 Let them eat and enjoy; and let their hopes deceive them, soon they shall know. 3 And never did We destroy a town but it had a term made known. 4 Every nation can only live for the time appointed for it. 5 And they say, "O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad. 6 Why do you not bring down the angels, if what you say is true' 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 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 (O Muhammad), certainly We did send Messengers before you among the nations which have gone by. 10 And no messenger would come to them except that they ridiculed him. 11 This is how We make the mocking* enter the hearts of the guilty. (* The acts of disbelief.) 12 They do not believe in the Truth and they exactly follow the tradition of the ancient (unbelievers) 13 If We opened a gate in the heaven and they kept ascending through it, 14 They would surely say: "Our eyes have been (as if) dazzled. Nay, we are a people bewitched." 15