The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ ALIF LAM RA. These are the verses of the Book and the perspicuous oration. 1 It may be that those who disbelieve wish ardently that they were Muslims. 2 Let them eat and enjoy; and let their hopes deceive them, soon they shall know. 3 And We did not destroy any city but that for it was a known decree. 4 No people can hasten on their doom nor can they postpone (it). 5 And they say, "O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad. 6 Why do you not bring us the angels, if you should be among the truthful?" 7 But then We never send the angels down save with the purpose (of enforcing their doom), after which they will not be given more respite. 8 Indeed We have sent down the Qur’an, and indeed We Ourselves surely are its Guardians. (This is one of the miracles of the Qur’an – no one has been able to change even one letter of its text, despite every effort. It has remained in its original form since the 6th Century (A. D) and will remain so forever. Other Holy Books such as the Torah and the Bible have lost their originality.) 9 We did send messengers before thee amongst the religious sects of old: 10 and never yet came an apostle to them without their deriding him. 11 Even so We make a way for it (that is, the Admonition) in the hearts of the culprits (like a hot rod); 12 They do not believe in it even though the practice of the ancients has already gone. 13 and even if We opened to them a door from heaven, and they began ascending through it, 14 they would still say, "Our eyes have been dazzled. We are bewitched." 15