The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the Book and (of) a Quran that makes (things) clear. 1 It may be that those who disbelieve wish ardently that they were Muslims. 2 leave them to eat, and to take their joy, and to be bemused by hope; certainly they will soon know! 3 And We have not destroyed a town but there was therefor a decree known. 4 [but remember that] no community can ever forestall [the end of] its term - and neither can they 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 dost thou not bring before us angels, if thou art a man of truth? 7 We do not send down angels without reason, and if the angels descend they would not get any respite! 8 As for the Admonition, indeed it is We Who have revealed it and it is indeed We Who are its guardians. 9 (O Muhammad), certainly We did send Messengers before you among the nations which have gone by. 10 No Messenger went to them whom they did not mock. 11 Even so do we let it creep into the hearts of the sinners - 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 and even if We opened to them a door from heaven, and they began ascending through it, 14 they would still say, "Our eyes have been dazzled. We are bewitched." 15