The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Ra. These are the verses of the Book and the glorious Quran. 1 The unbelievers would haply like to wish that they had submitted (and become Muslim). 2 (Muhammad), leave them alone to eat and enjoy themselves and let their desires deceive them; they will soon know (the Truth). 3 Never did We destroy a population that had not a term decreed and assigned beforehand. 4 No group may advance its appointed promise nor postpone it. 5 And yet, they [who deny the truth] say: "O thou unto whom this reminder has [allegedly] been bestowed from on high: verily, thou art mad! 6 Why do you not bring us the angels, if you should be among the truthful?" 7 We do not send down the angels (in frivolity); and when We do send them down, We do so with Truth; then people are granted no respite. 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 We sent messengers before you to the previous peoples, 10 No Messenger went to them whom they did not mock. 11 This is how We make the mocking* enter the hearts of the guilty. (* The acts of disbelief.) 12 they believe not in it, though the wont of the ancients is already gone. 13 Though We opened to them a gate in heaven, and still they mounted through it, 14 They would surely say: intoxicated have been our sights; aye! we are a people enchanted. 15