The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the Book and a clear Qur'an. 1 Perchance the unbelievers will wish that they had surrendered: 2 so leave them to eat and enjoy themselves and let them be beguiled by vain hopes; for soon they will realise [the truth]. 3 And never did We destroy a town but it had a term made known. 4 Neither can a people anticipate its term, nor delay it. 5 And they say: O thou unto whom the admonition hath been sent down! verily thou art possessed. 6 Why do you not bring to us the angels if you are of the truthful ones? 7 We do not send down angels without reason, and if the angels descend they would not get any 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 thee, among the factions of the ancients, 10 And there never came an apostle to them but they mocked him. 11 Even so do we let it creep into the hearts of the sinners - 12 they do not believe in it. This has been the wont of people of this kind from ancient times. 13 Even if We opened out to them a gate from heaven, and they were to continue (all day) ascending therein, 14 They will say all the same: "Our eyes were dazed (and clouded over). We were a people ensorcelled." 15