The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ Alif-Lam-Ra. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. These are the Verses of the Book, and a plain Quran. 1 It could be that those who disbelieve will wish that they were Muslims. 2 Leave them thou to eat and to enjoy, and let vain hope divert them; presently they will know. 3 We have never destroyed a township without a definite decree having been issued; 4 No nation can anticipate its term, nor delay it. 5 And they say: O you to whom the Reminder has been revealed! you are most surely insane: 6 Why dost thou not bring before us angels, if thou art a man of truth? 7 [Yet] We never send down angels otherwise than in accordance with the [demands of] truth; and [were the angels to appear now,] lo! they [who reject this divine writ] would have no further respite! 8 Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian. 9 (O Muhammad), certainly We did send Messengers before you among the nations which have gone by. 10 And not an apostle came unto them but at him they were wont to mock. 11 Thus do We make it traverse the hearts of the guilty: 12 They do not believe in it, and indeed the example of the former people has already passed. 13 If We opened a gate in the heaven and they kept ascending through it, 14 still they would say: 'Our eyes were dazzled; truly, we must have been a bewitched people' 15