Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
Ha Mim. 1 By the Book that makes things clear, 2 Lo! We have appointed it a Lecture, in Arabic that haply ye may understand. 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 But how many were the prophets We sent amongst the peoples of old? 6 But never did a prophet come at whom they did not scoff. 7 Then We destroyed those who were stronger than these in prowess, and the case of the ancients has gone before, 8 And if you ask them, “Who has created the heavens and the earth?”, they will surely say, “They are created by the Most Honourable, the All Knowing.” 9 Who has made for you the earth like a bed, and has made for you roads therein, in order that you may find your way, 10 And Who sends down water (rain) from the sky in due measure. Then We revive a dead land therewith, and even so you will be brought forth (from the dead), 11 it is He who created all living things in pairs and gave you ships to sail in and beasts to ride upon 12 in order that you might gain mastery over them, and that, whenever you have mastered them, you might remember your Sustainer's blessings and say: "Limitless in His glory is He who has made [all] this subservient to our use - since [but for Him,] we would not have been able to attain to it. 13 And to our Lord we shall surely return." 14 AND YET, they attribute to Him offspring from among some of the beings created by Him! Verily, most obviously bereft of all gratitude is man! 15