The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
۞ Alif-Lam-Ra. These are the verses of the Book, and a Qur'an luminous. 1 The disbelievers will ardently wish that if only they had been Muslims! (At the time of death / in their graves / on the Day of Resurrection.) 2 (Muhammad), leave them alone to eat and enjoy themselves and let their desires deceive them; they will soon know (the Truth). 3 Never a city have We destroyed, but it had a known decree, 4 No people can hasten or delay the term already fixed for them. 5 They say: "O thou to whom the Message is being revealed! truly thou art mad (or possessed)! 6 “Why do you not bring angels to 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 Indeed We have sent down the Qur’an, and indeed We Ourselves surely are its Guardians. (This is one of the miracles of the Qur’an – no one has been able to change even one letter of its text, despite every effort. It has remained in its original form since the 6th Century (A. D) and will remain so forever. Other Holy Books such as the Torah and the Bible have lost their originality.) 9 Indeed, We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad SAW) amongst the sects (communities) of old. 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 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 Even if We opened out to them a gate from heaven, and they were to continue (all day) ascending therein, 14 They would surely say: intoxicated have been our sights; aye! we are a people enchanted. 15