The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Ra. These are the verses of the Book and the glorious Quran. 1 The unbelievers would haply like to wish that they had submitted (and become Muslim). 2 so leave them to eat and enjoy themselves and let them be beguiled by vain hopes; for soon they will realise [the truth]. 3 Not one habitation have We destroyed but at the time determined for it. 4 no people can forestall their doom, nor can they delay it. 5 And they say: O thou unto whom the admonition hath been sent down! verily thou art possessed. 6 Why do you not bring us the angels, if you should be among the truthful?" 7 We do not send down the angels (in frivolity); and when We do send them down, We do so with Truth; then people are granted no respite. 8 Indeed We have sent down the Qur’an, and indeed We Ourselves surely are its Guardians. (This is one of the miracles of the Qur’an – no one has been able to change even one letter of its text, despite every effort. It has remained in its original form since the 6th Century (A. D) and will remain so forever. Other Holy Books such as the Torah and the Bible have lost their originality.) 9 Indeed, We sent Messengers before thee, among the factions of the ancients, 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 Though We opened to them a gate in heaven, and still they mounted through it, 14 still they would say: 'Our eyes were dazzled; truly, we must have been a bewitched people' 15