Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
HaMeem. 1 CONSIDER this divine writ, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth: 2 behold, We have caused it to be a discourse in the Arabic tongue, so that you might encompass it with your reason. 3 and behold, it is in the Essence of the Book, with Us; sublime indeed, wise. 4 Shall We then take away the Message from you and repel (you), for that ye are a people transgressing beyond bounds? 5 How many Messengers did We send to the ancient people? 6 But never yet came a prophet to them without their deriding him 7 Wherefore We destroyed peoples mightier than these in prowess; and there hath gone forth the example of the ancients. 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 Who made the earth a resting-place for you, and made in it ways for you that you may go aright; 10 And who sends down rain from the sky in measured amounts, and We revive thereby a dead land - thus will you be brought forth - 11 And Who has created all the pairs and has appointed for you ships and cattle on which you ride, 12 So that when you sit astride of them and think of the bounties of your Lord, you may say: "All glory to Him who subjugated these for us. We were incapable of doing so. 13 Hence, verily, it is unto Him that we must always turn." 14 And they assign to Him a part of His servants; man, to be sure, is clearly ungrateful. 15