Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Ha Mim. 1 CONSIDER this divine writ, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth: 2 We have made it a Qur'an in Arabic, that ye may be able to understand (and learn wisdom). 3 It is in the Origin of the Book with Us, sublime and wise. 4 Should We have withdrawn the Reminder from you as you are a people who exceed the bounds? 5 And how many Prophets We did send among the earlier people! 6 And not a prophet came unto them but him they were wont to mock. 7 We utterly destroyed them although they were greater in might than these. The examples of ancient peoples have gone before. 8 And if thou (Muhammad) ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth, they will surely answer: The Mighty, the Knower 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 He Who sends down water from the cloud according to a measure, then We raise to life thereby a dead country, even thus shall you be brought forth; 11 And He it is who has created all opposites. And He [it is who] has provided for you all those ships and animals whereon you 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 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