The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Ra. THESE ARE MESSAGES of revelation - of a discourse clear in itself and clearly showing the truth. 1 A time will surely come when those who are bent on denying the truth will wish that they had surrendered themselves to God, 2 leave them to eat, and to take their joy, and to be bemused by hope; certainly they will soon know! 3 Never a city have We destroyed, but it had a known decree, 4 No nation can outstrip its term nor can they lag behind. 5 They say: 'You to whom the Remembrance is sent down, you are indeed mad. 6 Why dost thou not bring the angels unto us, if thou speakest truly?' 7 We send not the angels down except for just cause: if they came (to the ungodly), behold! no respite would they have! 8 It is We who have sent down the Reminder and We will, most surely, safeguard it. 9 We had also sent apostles to people of earlier persuasions. 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 him, and the tradition of earlier nations has passed. 13 Though We opened to them a gate in heaven, and still they mounted through it, 14 They would certainly say: Only our eyes have been covered over, rather we are an enchanted people. 15