Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Ha-Mim. 1 By the manifest Book (that makes things clear, i.e. this Quran). 2 Verily We! We have made it an Arabic Qur'an that haply ye may reflect. 3 It is inscribed in the original Book (of Books) with Us, sublime, dispenser of (all) laws. 4 Should We have withdrawn the Reminder from you as you are a people who exceed the bounds? 5 But how many were the prophets We sent amongst the peoples of old? 6 Yet never did a Prophet come to them but they mocked him. 7 So We destroyed far more powerful (nations) than they. The example of earlier people is there. 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 He it is who has made the earth a cradle for you, and has provided for you ways [of livelihood] thereon, so that you might follow the right path. 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 And the One Who created all pairs, and made the ships and cattle as rides for you. 12 That you may firmly sit on their backs, then remember the favor of your Lord when you are firmly seated thereon, and say: Glory be to Him Who made this subservient to us and we were not able to do it 13 surely unto our Lord we are turning.' 14 And from* His bondmen, they appointed a portion for Him; man is indeed an open ingrate. (* Appointed some of His creation as His sons and daughters). 15