The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Ra'. These are the verses of the Book, and a Clear Qur'an. 1 It may be that those who disbelieve wish ardently that they were Muslims. 2 leave them to eat, and to take their joy, and to be bemused by hope; certainly they will soon know! 3 Never did We destroy a population that had not a term decreed and assigned beforehand. 4 No people can outstrip the term for its destruction nor can it delay it. 5 And they say, "O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad. 6 Why dost thou not bring the angels unto us, if thou speakest truly?' 7 We do not send the angels but with truth, and then they would not be respited. 8 Behold, it is We Ourselves who have bestowed from on high, step by step, this reminder; and behold, it is We who shall truly guard it [from all corruption]. 9 We did send messengers before thee amongst the religious sects of old: 10 And whenever a Messenger came to them, they never failed to mock him. 11 This is how We make the mocking* enter the hearts of the guilty. (* The acts of disbelief.) 12 who do not believe in it, although the way which those [evildoers] of olden times had to go has long been within their ken. 13 And if We opened upon them a door of the heaven, and they passed the day mounting thereto. 14 They would only say: "Our eyes have been intoxicated: Nay, we have been bewitched by sorcery." 15