Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Ha, Meem. 1 By the Scripture which maketh plain, 2 We have made it an Arabic Koran in order that you understand. 3 It (the Quran) exists in the original Book with Us which is certainly Most Exalted, full of wisdom and (beyond linguistic structures). 4 What! shall We then turn away the reminder from you altogether because you are an extravagant people? 5 And how many a Prophet have We sent amongst the men of old. 6 But never did a prophet come at whom they did not scoff. 7 We destroyed the strongest among them in power. The stories of the ancient people have already been mentioned. 8 And if you should ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth? they would most certainly say: The Mighty, the Knowing One, has created them; 9 He it is who has made the earth a cradle for you, and has provided for you ways [of livelihood] thereon, so that you might follow the right path. 10 He Who sent down water from the sky in a determined measure, and thereby We revived a dead land: likewise will you be raised up (from the earth) -- 11 And Who hath treated the pairs, all of them, and appointed for you from ships and cattle things whereon ye ride. 12 That you may settle yourselves upon their backs and then remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them and say. "Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it. 13 surely unto our Lord we are turning.' 14 And they assign to Him a part of His servants; man, to be sure, is clearly ungrateful. 15