Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Ha-Meem. (Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah, and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings.) 1 By the clear Book, 2 That We made it a distinctly lucid Qur'an that you may understand. 3 And indeed it is, in the Mother of the Book with Us, exalted and full of wisdom. 4 Shall We turn away the Remembrance from you, for that you are a prodigal people? 5 And how many Prophets We did send among the earlier people! 6 But never yet came a prophet to them without their deriding him 7 So We destroyed (them)- stronger in power than these;- and (thus) has passed on the Parable of the peoples of old. 8 Yet, if you ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they will answer: 'The Almighty, the Knower created them' 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 And Who sendeth down from the heaven water in measure; then We quicken a dead land therewith: even so ye shall be brought forth. 11 it is He who created all living things in pairs and gave you ships to sail in and beasts to ride upon 12 In order that ye may sit firm and square on their backs, and when so seated, ye may celebrate the (kind) favour of your Lord, and say, "Glory to Him Who has subjected these to our (use), for we could never have accomplished this (by ourselves), 13 It is to our Lord that we shall eventually return.” 14 And from* His bondmen, they appointed a portion for Him; man is indeed an open ingrate. (* Appointed some of His creation as His sons and daughters). 15