The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Ra. THESE ARE MESSAGES of revelation - of a discourse clear in itself and clearly showing the truth. 1 And it will come to pass that those who are [now] bent on denying this truth will wish that they had surrendered themselves to God [in their life time]. 2 Leave them alone; let them eat and enjoy themselves the while the hope [of vain delights] beguiles them: for in time they will come to know [the truth]. 3 We never destroyed any town without pre-ordaining the fate of its people. 4 Neither can a people anticipate its term, nor delay it. 5 And yet, they [who deny the truth] say: "O thou unto whom this reminder has [allegedly] been bestowed from on high: verily, thou art mad! 6 "Why do you not bring angels to us if you are of the truthful ones?" 7 But We send down the angels only to bring justice and then they will not be reprieved. 8 We have sent down this Exposition, and We will guard it. 9 AND, INDEED, [O Prophet,] even before thy time did We send [Our apostles] unto communities of old 10 And never does a Noble Messenger come to them, but they mock at him. 11 Thus do We let it (polytheism and disbelief) enter into the hearts of the Mujrimun [criminals, polytheists, pagans, etc. (because of their mockery at the Messengers)]. 12 who do not believe in it, although the way which those [evildoers] of olden times had to go has long been within their ken. 13 Even if We opened out to them a gate from heaven, and they were to continue (all day) ascending therein, 14 still they would say: 'Our eyes were dazzled; truly, we must have been a bewitched people' 15