The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Ra. These are the verses of the Book and the glorious Quran. 1 The unbelievers would haply like to wish that they had submitted (and become Muslim). 2 Leave them alone; let them eat and enjoy themselves the while the hope [of vain delights] beguiles them: for in time they will come to know [the truth]. 3 And We destroyed no township but there was a known decree for it. 4 [but remember that] no community can ever forestall [the end of] its term - and neither can they delay [it]. 5 And they say: O thou unto whom the admonition hath been sent down! verily thou art possessed. 6 Why do you not bring us the angels, if you should be among the truthful?" 7 We send not the angels down except with the truth (i.e. for torment, etc.), and in that case, they (the disbelievers) would have no respite! 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 Indeed, We sent Messengers before thee, among the factions of the ancients, 10 but there was never a messenger who came to them but they mocked him: 11 Thus do We let it (polytheism and disbelief) enter into the hearts of the Mujrimun [criminals, polytheists, pagans, etc. (because of their mockery at the Messengers)]. 12 They do not believe in it even though the practice of the ancients has already gone. 13 And if We open for them a gate in the heavens, to ascend it through the day – 14 They would only say: "Our eyes have been intoxicated: Nay, we have been bewitched by sorcery." 15