Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
Ha-Meem. (Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah, and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings.) 1 CONSIDER this divine writ, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth: 2 behold, We have made it an Arabic Koran; haply you will understand; 3 And Lo! in the Source of Decrees, which We possess, it is indeed sublime, decisive. 4 [O YOU who deny the truth!] Should We, perchance, withdraw this reminder from you altogether, seeing that you are people bent on wasting your own selves? 5 How many a prophet did We send among the men of old! 6 but whenever a prophet came to them, they mocked him, 7 Then We destroyed men stronger (in power) than these, and the example of the ancients has passed away (before them). 8 If thou wert to question them, 'Who created the heavens and the earth?' They would be sure to reply, 'they were created by (Him), the Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge';- 9 (Yea, the same that) has made for you the earth (like a carpet) spread out, and has made for you roads (and channels) therein, in order that ye may find guidance (on the way); 10 It is He who sends water down from the sky in due measure, We revive dead land with it and likewise you will be resurrected from the grave, 11 And Who hath treated the pairs, all of them, and appointed for you from ships and cattle things whereon ye ride. 12 in order that you might gain mastery over them, and that, whenever you have mastered them, you might remember your Sustainer's blessings and say: "Limitless in His glory is He who has made [all] this subservient to our use - since [but for Him,] we would not have been able to attain to it. 13 To our Lord we shall all return". 14 Yet they make some of His creatures His offspring! Man is surely most ungrateful. 15