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 the perspicuous oration. 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 themselves and be diverted by [false] hope, for they are going to know. 3 We have never destroyed a township without a definite decree having been issued; 4 No nation can outstrip its term nor can they lag behind. 5 They say: 'Thou, upon whom the Remembrance is sent down, thou art assuredly possessed! 6 Why do you not bring down angels upon us if you are indeed truthful?" 7 We send not the angels down except with the truth (i.e. for torment, etc.), and in that case, they (the disbelievers) would have no respite! 8 We have sent down this Exposition, and We will guard it. 9 And indeed We sent Noble Messengers before you, to the former nations. 10 and never yet came an apostle to them without their deriding him. 11 Even so We make a way for it (that is, the Admonition) in the hearts of the culprits (like a hot rod); 12 They do not believe in the Truth and they exactly follow the tradition of the ancient (unbelievers) 13 And even if We opened unto them a gate of heaven and they kept mounting through it, 14 they would surely have said, "It is only our eyes that are spellbound! Nay, we have been bewitched! 15