The Romans (Al-Room)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ Alif-Laam-Meem. (Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah, and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings.) 1 The Romans have been defeated 2 in the neighbouring land; but after their defeat they shall gain victory 3 Within three to nine years. The decision of the matter, before and after (these events) is only with Allah, (before the defeat of Romans by the Persians, and after, i.e. the defeat of the Persians by the Romans). And on that Day, the believers (i.e. Muslims) will rejoice (at the victory given by Allah to the Romans against the Persians), 4 in the victory of Allah. Allah gives victory to whosoever He will, and He is the Mighty, the Merciful. 5 The promise of God! God fails not His promise, but most men do not know it. 6 They only know the palpable life of this world, and are oblivious of the Hereafter. 7 Have they not pondered upon themselves? Allah created not the heavens and the earth, and that which is between them, save with truth and for a destined end. But truly many of mankind are disbelievers in the meeting with their Lord. 8 Have they, then, never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before their time? Greater were they in power than they are; and they left a stronger impact on the earth, and built it up even better than these [are doing]; and to them [too] came their apostles with all evidence of the truth: and so, [when they rejected the truth and thereupon perished,] it was not God who wronged them, but it was they who had wronged themselves. 9 Then the end of those that did evil was evil, for that they cried lies to the signs of God and mocked at them. 10