Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
Ha-Meem. (Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah, and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings.) 1 CONSIDER this divine writ, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth: 2 We have made it an Arabic reading text so that perhaps you may understand. 3 Truly, it is inscribed in the Original Book, in Our keeping; it is sublime and full of wisdom. 4 Should We withdraw the admonition from you because you are a people far gone in transgression? 5 But how many were the prophets We sent amongst the peoples of old? 6 but whenever a prophet came to them, they mocked him, 7 We destroyed the strongest among them in power. The stories of the ancient people have already been mentioned. 8 If you ask them: "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they will answer: "The Mighty and All-knowing created them," 9 The One Who made the earth a bed for you, and made roads for you in it, so that you may be guided. 10 It is He who has sent down water from the sky in a known measure by which He has given life to the dead earth. In the same way will you also be resurrected. 11 and who created the pairs, all of them, and appointed for you ships and cattle such as you ride, 12 so that you can sit upon their backs and then remember the Favors of your Lord and say: 'Exaltations to Him who has subjected these to us otherwise, we ourselves were not capable of it, 13 To our Lord we shall all return". 14 But they have attributed to Him from His servants a portion. Indeed, man is clearly ungrateful. 15