The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
۞ Alif Lam Ra. Those are the signs of the Book and of a manifest Koran. 1 And it will come to pass that those who are [now] bent on denying this truth will wish that they had surrendered themselves to God [in their life time]. 2 Leave them to eat and enjoy, and for aspiration to involve them in play – so they will shortly come to know. 3 And We destroyed no township but there was a known decree for it. 4 No nation can anticipate its term, nor delay it. 5 And they say: O thou unto whom the Reminder is revealed, lo! thou art indeed a madman! 6 Why dost thou not bring before us angels, if thou art a man of truth? 7 We do not send angels except with the truth. Then they shall have no respite. 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 And indeed We sent Noble Messengers before you, to the former nations. 10 But never once an apostle came to them at whom they did not scoff. 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 [even] if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they continued therein to ascend, 14 They would say, "Our eyes have only been dazzled. Rather, we are a people affected by magic." 15