The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verses of the Scripture and a plain Reading. 1 Perhaps those who disbelieve will wish that they had been Muslims. 2 Leave them to eat and enjoy, and for aspiration to involve them in play – so they will shortly come to know. 3 Not one habitation have We destroyed but at the time determined for it. 4 No nation can outstrip its term, nor do they put it back. 5 They say: "O thou to whom the Message is being revealed! truly thou art mad (or possessed)! 6 Why do you not bring down the angels upon us, if you are truthful?" 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 As for the Admonition, indeed it is We Who have revealed it and it is indeed We Who are its guardians. 9 And assuredly We have sent apostles before thee among the sects of the ancients. 10 But never once an apostle came to them at whom they did not scoff. 11 This is how We make the mocking* enter the hearts of the guilty. (* The acts of disbelief.) 12 they believe not in it, though the wont of the ancients is already gone. 13 If We were even to open for them a way to the heavens, and they could continually climb up to it in broad daylight, 14 they would have said, "Our eyes are bewildered and we have been affected by magic." 15