The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the 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 It could be that those who disbelieve will wish that they were Muslims. 2 Leave them to eat and enjoy, and for aspiration to involve them in play – so they will shortly come to know. 3 Whenever We destroyed a town, a definite term had previously been decreed for it. 4 No community precedeth the term thereof nor doth it fall behind. 5 And they say: O thou unto whom the admonition hath been sent down! verily thou art possessed. 6 Why bringest thou not angels unto us, if thou art of the truthful? 7 We do not send the angels but with truth, and then they would not be respited. 8 We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption). 9 We sent Messengers to the ancient people who lived before you. 10 And not an apostle came unto them but at him they were wont to mock. 11 thus We cause this [habit of mocking] to enter into the hearts of the sinful. 12 They do not believe in it, and indeed the example of the former people has already passed. 13 And even if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they were to continue ascending thereto, 14 they would have said, "Our eyes are bewildered and we have been affected by magic." 15