The Romans (Al-Room)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
۞ Alif-Lam-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. 1 The Romans have been defeated 2 in a nearby land. They will reverse their defeat with a victory 3 Within a few years. Allah's is the command before and after; and on that day the believers shall rejoice, 4 In the help of God. He helps whom He will; He is all-mighty, ever-merciful. 5 (It is) a Promise of Allah (i.e. Allah will give victory to the Romans against the Persians), and Allah fails not in His Promise, but most of men know not. 6 They know only the outside appearance of the life of the world (i.e. the matters of their livelihood, like irrigating or sowing or reaping, etc.), and they are heedless of the Hereafter. 7 Have they never thought to themselves that Allah did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is between except with truth, and for a stated term? Yet most people disbelieve that they will ever meet their Lord. 8 Have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? They were greater than them in power, and they plowed the earth and built it up more than they have built it up, and their messengers came to them with clear evidences. And Allah would not ever have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves. 9 Then the end of those who did evil was the worst [consequence] because they denied the signs of Allah and used to ridicule them. 10