Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Ha. Mim. 1 CONSIDER this divine writ, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth: 2 We have made it a Qur'an in Arabic, that ye may be able to understand (and learn wisdom). 3 Truly, it is inscribed in the Original Book, in Our keeping; it is sublime and full of wisdom. 4 Should We divert this Good Counsel from you because you are a people immersed in extravagance? 5 How many a Prophet did We send to the ancients, 6 And never came there a prophet to them but they mocked him. 7 So We destroyed far more powerful (nations) than they. The example of earlier people is there. 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 The One Who made the earth a bed for you, and made roads for you in it, so that you may be guided. 10 And He Who sends down water from the cloud according to a measure, then We raise to life thereby a dead country, even thus shall you be brought forth; 11 And who created the species, all of them, and has made for you of ships and animals those which you mount. 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 Surely we have to go back to our Lord." 14 And they allot to Him a portion of His bondmen! Lo! man is verily a mere ingrate. 15