The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the Book and a clear Qur'an. 1 Oft times would those who disbelieve fain that they had been Muslims. 2 leave them to eat, and to take their joy, and to be bemused by hope; certainly they will soon know! 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 they said, “O you upon whom the Qur’an has been sent, you are indeed insane.” 6 Why do you not bring to us the angels if you are of the truthful ones? 7 We send not the angels down except for just cause: if they came (to the ungodly), behold! no respite would they have! 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 And indeed We sent Noble Messengers before you, to the former nations. 10 And not an apostle came unto them but at him they were wont to mock. 11 Thus do We make it traverse the hearts of the guilty: 12 They believe not therein, though the example of the men of old hath gone before. 13 Though We opened to them a gate in heaven, and still they mounted through it, 14 they would surely have said, "It is only our eyes that are spellbound! Nay, we have been bewitched! 15