Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Ha-Meem. (Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah, and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings.) 1 I swear by the illustrious Book. 2 Surely We have made it an Arabic Quran that you may understand. 3 and behold, it is in the Essence of the Book, with Us; sublime indeed, wise. 4 Should We divert this Good Counsel from you because you are a people immersed in extravagance? 5 And how many a prophet have We sent among the ancients. 6 And whenever any Prophet came to them, they only mocked at him. 7 so We destroyed men stronger in valour than they, and the example of the ancients passed away. 8 If you ask them: "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they will answer: "The Mighty and All-knowing created them," 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 It is He who sends water down from the sky in due measure, We revive dead land with it and likewise you will be resurrected from the grave, 11 It is He who has created everything in pairs and the ships and cattle for you to ride, 12 so that you can sit upon their backs and then remember the Favors of your Lord and say: 'Exaltations to Him who has subjected these to us otherwise, we ourselves were not capable of it, 13 "And to our Lord, surely, must we turn back!" 14 And they allot to Him a portion of His bondmen! Lo! man is verily a mere ingrate. 15