The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of a clear Book, the Quran. 1 It may be that those who disbelieve wish ardently that they were Muslims. 2 Leave them alone; let them eat and enjoy themselves the while the hope [of vain delights] beguiles them: for in time they will come to know [the truth]. 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 They say: 'You to whom the Remembrance is sent down, you are indeed mad. 6 Why bringest thou not angels unto us, if thou art of the truthful? 7 We do not send down the angels (in frivolity); and when We do send them down, We do so with Truth; then people are granted no 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 Indeed, We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad SAW) amongst the sects (communities) of old. 10 No Messenger went to them whom they did not mock. 11 Thus do We insert denial into the hearts of the criminals. 12 They do not believe in him, and the tradition of earlier nations has passed. 13 And if We opened upon them a door of the heaven, and they passed the day mounting thereto. 14 They would only say: "Our eyes have been intoxicated: Nay, we have been bewitched by sorcery." 15