Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
HA MIM. 1 I swear by the Book that makes things clear: 2 That We made it a distinctly lucid Qur'an that you may understand. 3 And verily it is, in the Original Book before Us, indeed exalted. 4 [O YOU who deny the truth!] Should We, perchance, withdraw this reminder from you altogether, seeing that you are people bent on wasting your own selves? 5 Many a prophet had We sent to the earlier communities, 6 And whenever any Prophet came to them, they only mocked at him. 7 so We destroyed those who were mightier than these; such was the example of the earlier peoples. 8 Yet thus it is [with most people]: if thou ask them, "Who is it that has created the heavens and the earth?" - they will surely answer, "The Almighty, the All-Knowing has created them." 9 He it is Who made this earth for you a cradle and made in it pathways for you that you may find the way to your destination; 10 And He Who sends down water from the cloud according to a measure, then We raise to life thereby a dead country, even thus shall you be brought forth; 11 That has created pairs in all things, and has made for you ships and cattle on which ye ride, 12 so that you may sit firmly on their backs. Then once you have mounted them, remember your Lord's favour and say, "Glory be to Him who has subjected these creatures to us; we would never on our own have subdued them. 13 And to our Lord we shall surely return." 14 Yet they attribute to some of His servants a share with Him (in his godhead)! truly is man a blasphemous ingrate avowed! 15