Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Ha-Mim. 1 I call to witness the lucent Book, 2 We have made it an Arabic reading text so that perhaps you may understand. 3 and behold, it is in the Essence of the Book, with Us; sublime indeed, wise. 4 Shall We turn away the Remembrance from you, for that you are a prodigal people? 5 How many a Prophet did We send to the ancients, 6 And whenever any Prophet came to them, they only mocked at him. 7 We utterly destroyed them although they were greater in might than these. The examples of ancient peoples have gone before. 8 And if thou askest them: who hath created the heavens and the earth? they will surely say: created them the Mighty, the Knower. 9 He it is who has made the earth a cradle for you, and has provided for you ways [of livelihood] thereon, so that you might follow the right path. 10 And Who sent down water from the sky with a proper measure, so We revived a dead city with it; this is how you will be taken out. 11 And Who has created all the pairs and has appointed for you ships and cattle on which you ride, 12 that you may be seated on their backs and then remember your Lord's blessing when you are seated on them, and say, 'Glory be to Him, who has subjected this to us, and we ourselves were not equal to it; 13 indeed, to our Lord we are turning' 14 And they allot to Him a portion of His bondmen! Lo! man is verily a mere ingrate. 15