The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of a clear Book, the Quran. 1 A time will surely come when those who are bent on denying the truth will wish that they had surrendered themselves to God, 2 Let them eat and enjoy; and let their hopes deceive them, soon they shall know. 3 And We have not destroyed a town but there was therefor a decree known. 4 No people can outstrip the term for its destruction nor can it delay it. 5 And they say: O thou unto whom the Reminder is revealed, lo! thou art indeed a madman! 6 "Why bringest thou not angels to us if it be that thou hast the Truth?" 7 We do not send angels except with the truth. Then they shall have no respite. 8 Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Quran) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption). 9 We have sent forth before you Messengers among the factions of the ancients. 10 and never yet came an apostle to them without their deriding him. 11 This is how We make the mocking* enter the hearts of the guilty. (* The acts of disbelief.) 12 They believe not therein, and already the example of the ancients hath gone forth. 13 Yet even had We opened to them a gateway to heaven and they had ascended, on and on, up to it, 14 They would certainly say: Only our eyes have been covered over, rather we are an enchanted people. 15