The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of a clear Book, the Quran. 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 Leave them thou to eat and to enjoy, and let vain hope divert them; presently they will know. 3 Whenever We destroyed a town, a definite term had previously been decreed for it. 4 No nation can anticipate its term, nor delay it. 5 They say: "O thou to whom the Message is being revealed! truly thou art mad (or possessed)! 6 Why do you not bring us the angels, if you should be among the truthful?" 7 But then We never send the angels down save with the purpose (of enforcing their doom), after which they will not be given more 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 Indeed, We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad SAW) amongst the sects (communities) of old. 10 But no Messenger came to them except he was mocked. 11 Even so We make a way for it (that is, the Admonition) in the hearts of the culprits (like a hot rod); 12 They will not believe in it, while there has already occurred the precedent of the former peoples. 13 Even if We open a door in the heavens and they ascend through it in broad daylight, 14 yet would they say, 'Our eyes have been dazzled; nay, we are a people bewitched!' 15