Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Ha, Meem. 1 I swear by the Book that makes things clear: 2 behold, We have caused it to be a discourse in the Arabic tongue, so that you might encompass it with your reason. 3 It (the Quran) exists in the original Book with Us which is certainly Most Exalted, full of wisdom and (beyond linguistic structures). 4 Shall We turn away the Remembrance from you because you are a sinful nation? 5 But how many were the prophets We sent amongst the peoples of old? 6 And never came there a Prophet to them but they used to mock at him. 7 And We destroyed greater than them in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded. 8 Yet if you were to ask them: “Who created the heavens and the earth?” they will certainly say: “The All-Mighty, the All-Knowing has created them.” 9 He it is who has made the earth a cradle for you, and has provided for you ways [of livelihood] thereon, so that you might follow the right path. 10 It is He who has sent down water from the sky in a known measure by which He has given life to the dead earth. In the same way will you also be resurrected. 11 He who created pairs of everything, and fashioned for you boats and beasts on which you ride, 12 That you may firmly sit on their backs, then remember the favor of your Lord when you are firmly seated thereon, and say: Glory be to Him Who made this subservient to us and we were not able to do it 13 And to our Lord we shall surely return." 14 Yet they have made some of His servants a part of Him. Indeed man is most evidently thankless. 15