The Dunes (Al-Ahqaaf)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ HA MIM. 1 The sending down of this Book is from Allah the Most Honourable, the Wise. 2 We have created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them ONLY for a genuine purpose and an appointed time. The unbelievers ignore that of which they have been warned. 3 Say: "Have you thought of those you invoke apart from God? Show me what they have created of the earth, or, do they have a share in the heavens? Bring me an earlier Book than this, or inherited knowledge, if you are truthful." 4 And who is more astray than he who invokes besides Allah those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and they, of their invocation, are unaware. 5 And when mankind are gathered together (at the Resurrection), they will be hostile to them and reject their worship (altogether)! 6 When Our enlightening revelations are recited to them, the disbelievers, of the truth which has come to them, say, "This is plain magic". 7 Or do they say: "He has invented all this"? Say [O Muhammad]: "Had I invented it, you would not be of the least help to me against God. He is fully aware of that [slander] into which you so recklessly plunge: enough is He as a witness between me and you! And [withal,] He alone is truly-forgiving, a true dispenser of grace." 8 Say: "I am not the first of [God's] apostles; and [like all of them,] I do not know what will be done with me or with you: for I am nothing but a plain warner." 9 Say, "Have you thought: what if this Quran really is from God and you reject it? What if one of the Children of Israel testifies to its similarity to earlier scripture and believes in it, and yet you are too arrogant to do the same? God certainly does not guide evil-doers." 10