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 By the Book that makes things clear,- 2 verily We have made it an Arabic Qur'an that you may understand. 3 And verily, it is in the Mother of the Book, in Our Presence, high (in dignity), full of wisdom. 4 So shall We divert the advice away from you, because you are a nation that exceeds the limits? 5 Many a prophet had We sent to the earlier communities, 6 but not a Prophet came to them, without they mocked at him; 7 and so, [in the end,] We destroyed them [even though they were] of greater might than these: and the [very] image of those people of old became a thing of the past. 8 If thou askest them, 'Who created the heavens and earth?' they will say, 'The All-mighty, the All-knowing created them.' 9 Who made the earth a resting-place for you, and placed roads for you therein, that haply ye may find your way; 10 And Who sends down water (rain) from the sky in due measure. Then We revive a dead land therewith, and even so you will be brought forth (from the dead), 11 and who created the pairs, all of them, and appointed for you ships and cattle such as you ride, 12 In order that ye may sit firm and square on their backs, and when so seated, ye may celebrate the (kind) favour of your Lord, and say, "Glory to Him Who has subjected these to our (use), for we could never have accomplished this (by ourselves), 13 "And to our Lord, surely, must we turn back!" 14 Yet they make some of His creatures His offspring! Man is surely most ungrateful. 15