The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most 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 How strongly the unbelievers will wish that they had been Muslims. 2 Leave them to eat and enjoy, and for aspiration to involve them in play – so they will shortly come to know. 3 We never destroyed a village whose term had not already been decreed. 4 Neither can a people anticipate its term, nor delay it. 5 They say: 'You to whom the Remembrance is sent down, you are indeed mad. 6 Why bringest thou not angels unto us if thou art of the truthtellers! 7 We send not the angels down except for just cause: if they came (to the ungodly), behold! no respite would they have! 8 Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Quran) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption). 9 We verily sent (messengers) before thee among the factions of the men of old. 10 But never came a messenger to them but they mocked him. 11 Even so do We [now] cause this [scorn of Our message] to pervade the hearts of those who are lost in sin, 12 They believe not therein, though the example of the men of old hath gone before. 13 and even if We opened to them a door from heaven, and they began ascending through it, 14 still they would say: 'Our eyes were dazzled; truly, we must have been a bewitched people' 15