The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ Alif-Lam-Ra; these are verses of the Book and the bright Qur’an. 1 A time will surely come when those who are bent on denying the truth will wish that they had surrendered themselves to God, 2 leave them to eat, and to take their joy, and to be bemused by hope; certainly they will soon know! 3 And We destroyed no township but there was a known decree for it. 4 No nation will precede its term, nor will they remain thereafter. 5 And yet they say: "You, to whom this Exposition has been sent are surely possessed of the Devil. 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 Behold, it is We Ourselves who have bestowed from on high, step by step, this reminder; and behold, it is We who shall truly guard it [from all corruption]. 9 And We had certainly sent [messengers] before you, [O Muhammad], among the sects of the former peoples. 10 And not an apostle came unto them but at him they were wont to mock. 11 This is how We cause the hearts of the guilty ones to behave. 12 They do not believe in it even though the practice of the ancients has already gone. 13 Though We opened to them a gate in heaven, and still they mounted through it, 14 They will say all the same: "Our eyes were dazed (and clouded over). We were a people ensorcelled." 15