The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ Alif-Lam-Ra. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. These are the Verses of the Book, and a plain Quran. 1 How strongly the unbelievers will wish that they had been Muslims. 2 Leave them thou to eat and to enjoy, and let vain hope divert them; presently they will know. 3 We have never destroyed a township without a definite decree having been issued; 4 Neither can a people anticipate its term, nor delay it. 5 They say, "You to whom the Reminder [the Quran] has been sent down, you are surely possessed. 6 "Why bringest thou not angels to us if it be that thou hast the Truth?" 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 Surely We have revealed the Reminder and We will most surely be its guardian. 9 AND, INDEED, [O Prophet,] even before thy time did We send [Our apostles] unto communities of old 10 and never yet came an apostle to them without their deriding him. 11 Even so We make a way for it (that is, the Admonition) in the hearts of the culprits (like a hot rod); 12 They believe not therein, and already the example of the ancients hath gone forth. 13 And if We open for them a gate in the heavens, to ascend it through the day – 14 they would still say, "Our eyes have been dazzled. We are bewitched." 15