The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ ALIF LAM RA. These are the verses of the Book and the perspicuous oration. 1 Perchance the unbelievers will wish that they had surrendered: 2 Let them eat and enjoy; and let their hopes deceive them, soon they shall know. 3 And never did We destroy a township but there was a known decree for it. 4 [but remember that] no community can ever forestall [the end of] its term - and neither can they delay [it]. 5 And they say: O you to whom the Reminder has been revealed! you are most surely insane: 6 Why bringest thou not angels unto us, if thou art of the truthful? 7 We do not send down angels except for a genuine purpose, at which time none will be given any further respite. 8 Verily We! it is We who have revealed the admonition, and verily We are the guardians thereof. 9 We did send messengers before thee amongst the religious sects of old: 10 And no messenger would come to them except that they ridiculed him. 11 This is how We cause the hearts of the guilty ones to behave. 12 They do not believe in him, and the tradition of earlier nations has passed. 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 will say all the same: "Our eyes were dazed (and clouded over). We were a people ensorcelled." 15