Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
Ha, Meem. 1 By the clear Book, 2 behold, We have made it an Arabic Koran; haply you will understand; 3 and behold, it is in the Essence of the Book, with Us; sublime indeed, wise. 4 [O YOU who deny the truth!] Should We, perchance, withdraw this reminder from you altogether, seeing that you are people bent on wasting your own selves? 5 How many a Prophet did We send to the ancients, 6 And whenever any Prophet came to them, they only mocked at him. 7 Then We destroyed men stronger (in power) than these, and the example of the ancients has passed away (before them). 8 If thou wert to question them, 'Who created the heavens and the earth?' They would be sure to reply, 'they were created by (Him), the Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge';- 9 It is He who has made the earth for you as a cradle and has made roads therein so that you will perhaps seek guidance. 10 He Who sent down water from the sky in a determined measure, and thereby We revived a dead land: likewise will you be raised up (from the earth) -- 11 And He Who created pairs of all things, and made for you of the ships and the cattle what you ride on, 12 so that you can sit upon their backs and then remember the Favors of your Lord and say: 'Exaltations to Him who has subjected these to us otherwise, we ourselves were not capable of it, 13 And to our Lord we shall surely return." 14 Yet they make some of His creatures His offspring! Man is surely most ungrateful. 15