Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Ha Mim. 1 I call to witness the lucent Book, 2 That We made it a distinctly lucid Qur'an that you may 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 Many a prophet had We sent to the earlier communities, 6 no Prophet came to them except that they mocked him, 7 We utterly destroyed them although they were greater in might than these. The examples of ancient peoples have gone before. 8 If you ask them: "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they will answer: "The Mighty and All-knowing created them," 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 has sent down water from the sky in a known measure by which He has given life to the dead earth. In the same way will you also be resurrected. 11 He Who created all the pairs, and appointed for you ships and cattle whereupon ye ride. 12 That ye may mount upon their backs, and may remember your Lord's favour when ye mount thereon, and may say: Glorified be He Who hath subdued these unto us, and we were not capable (of subduing them); 13 It is to our Lord that we shall eventually return.” 14 And they allot to Him a portion of His bondmen! Lo! man is verily a mere ingrate. 15