The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ Alif-Lam-Ra; these are verses of the Book and the bright Qur’an. 1 It may be that those who disbelieve wish ardently that they were Muslims. 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 Never did We destroy a population that had not a term decreed and assigned beforehand. 4 and no nation outstrips its term, nor do they put it back. 5 And they say, "O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad. 6 Why bringest thou not angels unto us, if thou art of the truthful? 7 We send not down the angels save with the Fact, and in that case (the disbelievers) would not be tolerated. 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 We did send messengers before thee amongst the religious sects of old: 10 but there was never a messenger who came to them but they mocked him: 11 We place in the hearts of sinners (disbelief). 12 They do not believe in him, and the tradition of earlier nations has passed. 13 If We opened a gate in the heaven and they kept ascending through it, 14 they would surely have said, "It is only our eyes that are spellbound! Nay, we have been bewitched! 15