The Romans (Al-Room)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ Alif Lam Mim. 1 The Romans have been conquered 2 in the lands close-by; yet it is they who, notwithstanding this their defeat, shall be victorious 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 God's help; God helps whomsoever He will; and He is the All-mighty, the All-compassionate. 5 [This is] God's promise. Never does God fail to fulfill His promise - but most people know [it] not: 6 They know only the outside appearance of the life of the world (i.e. the matters of their livelihood, like irrigating or sowing or reaping, etc.), and they are heedless of the Hereafter. 7 Do they not think for themselves that God did not create the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them without reason and a determined purpose? But many men reject the meeting with their Lord. 8 And did they not travel in the land to see what sort of fate befell those before them? They were stronger than them, and they cultivated the land and inhabited it more than them, and their Noble Messengers came to them with clear proofs; so it did not befit Allah’s Majesty to oppress them, but it was they who used to wrong themselves. 9 Evil was the end of the harmdoers, because they belied the verses of Allah and mocked at them. 10