The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verses of the Scripture and a plain Reading. 1 Again and again will those who disbelieve, wish that they had bowed (to Allah's will) in Islam. 2 Let them eat and enjoy; and let their hopes deceive them, soon they shall know. 3 We never destroyed a village whose term had not already been decreed. 4 No people can hasten on their doom nor can they postpone (it). 5 They say, "You to whom the Reminder [the Quran] has been sent down, you are surely possessed. 6 Why do you not bring us the angels, if you should be among the truthful?" 7 But We send down the angels only to bring justice and then they will not be reprieved. 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 We had certainly sent [messengers] before you, [O Muhammad], among the sects of the former peoples. 10 And no messenger would come to them except that they ridiculed him. 11 thus We cause this [habit of mocking] to enter into the hearts of the sinful. 12 They believe not therein, and already the example of the ancients hath gone forth. 13 and even if We opened to them a door from heaven, and they began ascending through it, 14 They would surely say: intoxicated have been our sights; aye! we are a people enchanted. 15