The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ Alif-Lam-Ra; these are verses of the Book and the bright Qur’an. 1 The disbelievers will ardently wish that if only they had been Muslims! (At the time of death / in their graves / on the Day of Resurrection.) 2 leave them to eat, and to take their joy, and to be bemused by hope; certainly they will soon know! 3 Not one habitation have We destroyed but at the time determined for it. 4 No nation can anticipate its term, nor delay it. 5 And they said, “O you upon whom the Qur’an has been sent, you are indeed insane.” 6 Why do you not bring to us the angels if you are of the truthful ones? 7 We send not down the angels save with the Fact, and in that case (the disbelievers) would not be tolerated. 8 Indeed We have sent down the Qur’an, and indeed We Ourselves surely are its Guardians. (This is one of the miracles of the Qur’an – no one has been able to change even one letter of its text, despite every effort. It has remained in its original form since the 6th Century (A. D) and will remain so forever. Other Holy Books such as the Torah and the Bible have lost their originality.) 9 And certainly We sent (apostles) before you among the nations of yore. 10 And never came a Messenger to them but they did mock him. 11 even so We cause it to enter into the hearts of the sinners -- 12 They do not believe in the Truth and they exactly follow the tradition of the ancient (unbelievers) 13 If We were even to open for them a way to the heavens, and they could continually climb up to it in broad daylight, 14 They would only say: "Our eyes have been intoxicated: Nay, we have been bewitched by sorcery." 15