Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Ha-Meem. (Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah, and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings.) 1 I swear by the illustrious Book. 2 That We made it a distinctly lucid Qur'an that you may understand. 3 It is inscribed in the original Book (of Books) with Us, sublime, dispenser of (all) laws. 4 Shall We then take away the Message from you and repel (you), for that ye are a people transgressing beyond bounds? 5 How many a Prophet did We send to the ancients, 6 And not a prophet came unto them but him they were wont to mock. 7 Wherefore We destroyed peoples mightier than these in prowess; and there hath gone forth the example of the ancients. 8 If thou askest them, 'Who created the heavens and earth?' they will say, 'The All-mighty, the All-knowing 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 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 He Who created these pairs, all of them, and provided you ships and cattle on which you ride, 12 That you may settle yourselves upon their backs and then remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them and say. "Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it. 13 “And indeed we have to return to our Lord.” 14 Yet they have assigned to Him a part of His own servants! Man is dearly unthankful. 15