Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Ha Mim. 1 I swear by the illustrious Book. 2 Lo! We have appointed it a Lecture, in Arabic that haply ye may understand. 3 And Verily, it (this Quran) is in the Mother of the Book (i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz), before Us, indeed Exalted, full of Wisdom. 4 Should We divert this Good Counsel from you because you are a people immersed in extravagance? 5 We have sent many a prophet to earlier peoples 6 no Prophet came to them except that they mocked him, 7 so We destroyed those who were mightier in courage than they. And the example of the ancients has passed away. 8 And if you should ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth? they would most certainly say: The Mighty, the Knowing One, has created them; 9 He it is who has made the earth a cradle for you, and has provided for you ways [of livelihood] thereon, so that you might follow the right path. 10 And Who sendeth down from the heaven water in measure; then We quicken a dead land therewith: even so ye shall be brought forth. 11 and who created the pairs, all of them, and appointed for you ships and cattle such as you ride, 12 In order that you may mount firmly on their backs, and then may remember the Favour of your Lord when you mount thereon, and say: "Glory to Him who has subjected this to us, and we could never have it (by our efforts)." 13 And to our Lord we shall surely return." 14 Yet they have assigned to Him a part of His own servants! Man is dearly unthankful. 15