The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Ra. THESE ARE MESSAGES of revelation - of a discourse clear in itself and clearly showing the truth. 1 Perhaps those who disbelieve will wish that they had been Muslims. 2 Leave them to eat and enjoy life and let false hopes amuse them. They will soon come to know. 3 And We have not destroyed a town but there was therefor a decree known. 4 No group may advance its appointed promise nor postpone it. 5 And yet, they [who deny the truth] say: "O thou unto whom this reminder has [allegedly] been bestowed from on high: verily, thou art mad! 6 Why dost thou not bring the angels unto us, if thou speakest truly?' 7 [Yet] We never send down angels otherwise than in accordance with the [demands of] truth; and [were the angels to appear now,] lo! they [who reject this divine writ] would have no further 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 We verily sent (messengers) before thee among the factions of the men of old. 10 And never does a Noble Messenger come to them, but they mock at him. 11 Thus do We make it to enter into the hearts of the guilty; 12 They believe not therein, though the example of the men of old hath gone before. 13 And even if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they were to continue ascending thereto, 14 they would still say, "Our eyes have been dazzled. We are bewitched." 15