The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verses of the Scripture and a plain Reading. 1 Perhaps those who disbelieve will wish that they had been Muslims. 2 Leave them alone; let them eat and enjoy themselves the while the hope [of vain delights] beguiles them: for in time they will come to know [the truth]. 3 And We have not destroyed a town but there was therefor a decree known. 4 Every nation can only live for the time appointed for it. 5 They say: 'Thou, upon whom the Remembrance is sent down, thou art assuredly possessed! 6 Why do you not bring to us the angels if you are of the truthful ones? 7 We send not down the angels, save with truth; 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 indeed We sent Noble Messengers before you, to the former nations. 10 But no Messenger came to them except he was mocked. 11 Thus do We let it (polytheism and disbelief) enter into the hearts of the Mujrimun [criminals, polytheists, pagans, etc. (because of their mockery at the Messengers)]. 12 They do not believe in him, and the tradition of earlier nations has passed. 13 If We were even to open for them a way to the heavens, and they could continually climb up to it in broad daylight, 14 They would say, "Our eyes have only been dazzled. Rather, we are a people affected by magic." 15