The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Alif-Lam-Ra. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. These are the Verses of the Book, and a plain Quran. 1 Oft times would those who disbelieve fain that they had been Muslims. 2 Leave them to feast and revel, beguiled by hope; they will come to know soon. 3 We have never destroyed a township without a definite decree having been issued; 4 No nation can anticipate its term, nor delay it. 5 And yet, they [who deny the truth] say: "O thou unto whom this reminder has [allegedly] been bestowed from on high: verily, thou art mad! 6 Why bringest thou not angels unto us, if thou art of the truthful? 7 We send not the angels down save with judgment, and then they would not be respited. 8 Behold, it is We Ourselves who have bestowed from on high, step by step, this reminder; and behold, it is We who shall truly guard it [from all corruption]. 9 We verily sent (messengers) before thee among the factions of the men of old. 10 No Messenger went to them whom they did not mock. 11 So We make it enter the hearts of the sinners. 12 They do not believe in him, and the tradition of earlier nations has passed. 13 And even if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they were to continue ascending thereto, 14 they would have said, "Our eyes are bewildered and we have been affected by magic." 15