The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
۞ Alif-Lam-Ra. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. These are the Verses of the Book, and a plain Quran. 1 The disbelievers will ardently wish that if only they had been Muslims! (At the time of death / in their graves / on the Day of Resurrection.) 2 Let them eat and enjoy; and let their hopes deceive them, soon they shall know. 3 We have never destroyed a township without a definite decree having been issued; 4 Every nation can only live for the time appointed for it. 5 They say: "O thou to whom the Message is being revealed! truly thou art mad (or possessed)! 6 "Why do you not bring angels to us if you are of the truthful ones?" 7 But then We never send the angels down save with the purpose (of enforcing their doom), after which they will not be given more respite. 8 As for the Admonition, indeed it is We Who have revealed it and it is indeed We Who are its guardians. 9 We sent messengers before you to the previous peoples, 10 And never came there unto them a messenger 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 it even though the practice of the ancients has already gone. 13 And even if We open to them a gateway of heaven, so that they ascend into it all the while, 14 They would say, "Our eyes have only been dazzled. Rather, we are a people affected by magic." 15