Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
Ha. Mim. 1 CONSIDER this divine writ, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth: 2 We have made it a Qur'an in Arabic, that ye may be able to understand (and learn wisdom). 3 Indeed it is transcribed in the Original Book with Us; sublime and full of wisdom. 4 Shall We then take away from you the admonition because ye are a people extravagant? 5 We have sent many a prophet to earlier peoples 6 But never yet came a prophet to them without their deriding him 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 It is He who has made the earth for you as a cradle and has made roads therein so that you will perhaps seek guidance. 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 it is He who created all living things in pairs and gave you ships to sail in and beasts to ride upon 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 Hence, verily, it is unto Him that we must always turn." 14 Yet they make some of His creatures His offspring! Man is surely most ungrateful. 15