The Romans (Al-Room)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Mim. 1 The Romans have been defeated 2 in the lands close-by; yet it is they who, notwithstanding this their defeat, shall be victorious 3 Within three to nine years. The decision of the matter, before and after (these events) is only with Allah, (before the defeat of Romans by the Persians, and after, i.e. the defeat of the Persians by the Romans). And on that Day, the believers (i.e. Muslims) will rejoice (at the victory given by Allah to the Romans against the Persians), 4 in God's help; God helps whomsoever He will; and He is the All-mighty, the All-compassionate. 5 This is Allah's promise and He does not go back on His promise. But most people do not know. 6 they only know the outward appearance of the life of this world, and they are neglectful of the Hereafter. 7 Have they never learned to think for themselves? God has not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them without [an inner] truth and a term set [by Him]: and yet, behold, there are many people who stubbornly deny the truth that they are destined to meet their Sustainer! 8 Have they, then, never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before their time? Greater were they in power than they are; and they left a stronger impact on the earth, and built it up even better than these [are doing]; and to them [too] came their apostles with all evidence of the truth: and so, [when they rejected the truth and thereupon perished,] it was not God who wronged them, but it was they who had wronged themselves. 9 Then evil was the end of those who did evil, because they rejected the communications of Allah and used to mock them. 10