The Prophets (Al-Anbyaa')
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
۞ CLOSER DRAWS unto men their reckoning: and yet they remain stubbornly heedless [of its approach]. 1 no Remembrance from their Lord comes to them lately renewed, but they listen to it yet playing, 2 their hearts are diverted. The harmdoers mutter to one another: 'Is this anything else but a human like yourself? What, will you follow sorcery with your eyes open' 3 He saith: My Lord knoweth what is spoken in the heaven and the earth. He is the Hearer, the Knower. 4 "Nay," they say: "[Muhammad propounds] the most involved and confusing of dreams!" "Nay, but he has invented [all] this!" - "Nay, but he is [only] a poet!" - [and,] "Let him, then, come unto us with a miracle, just as those [prophets] of old were sent [with miracles]?" 5 The people of the town whom We had destroyed also had no faith. Will these people then believe in God? 6 And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men, whom We inspired. Ask the followers of the Reminder if ye know not? 7 We did not give them bodies that needed no food, nor were they to live forever. 8 Then We fulfilled to them the promise, and We saved them and those whom We willed, but We destroyed Al-Musrifun (i.e. extravagants in oppression, polytheism and in sin). 9 Indeed, We have sent down for you (O mankind) a Book, (the Quran) in which there is Dhikrukum, (your Reminder or an honour for you i.e. honour for the one who follows the teaching of the Quran and acts on its orders). Will you not then understand? 10