Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Ha, Meem. 1 By the Clear Book; 2 That We made it a distinctly lucid Qur'an that you may understand. 3 and behold, it is in the Essence of the Book, with Us; sublime indeed, wise. 4 So shall We divert the advice away from you, because you are a nation that exceeds the limits? 5 And how many a prophet did We send to people of olden times! 6 And whenever any Prophet came to them, they only mocked at him. 7 And We destroyed greater than them in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded. 8 Yet if you were to ask them: “Who created the heavens and the earth?” they will certainly say: “The All-Mighty, the All-Knowing has created them.” 9 [The one] who has made for you the earth a bed and made for you upon it roads that you might be guided 10 And Who sent down water from the sky with a proper measure, so We revived a dead city with it; this is how you will be taken out. 11 And He Who created pairs of all things, and made for you of the ships and the cattle what you ride on, 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