The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of a clear Book, the Quran. 1 A time will surely come when those who are bent on denying the truth will wish that they had surrendered themselves to God, 2 Leave them to eat and enjoy life and let false hopes amuse them. They will soon come to know. 3 We have never destroyed a township without a definite decree having been issued; 4 No people can outstrip the term for its destruction nor can it 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 to us the angels if you are of the truthful ones? 7 We do not send down angels except for a genuine purpose, at which time none will be given any further respite. 8 Lo! We, even We, reveal the Reminder, and lo! We verily are its Guardian. 9 We verily sent (messengers) before thee among the factions of the men of old. 10 And never came a Messenger to them but they did mock him. 11 This is how We cause the hearts of the guilty ones to behave. 12 They believe not therein, and already the example of the ancients hath gone forth. 13 Though We opened to them a gate in heaven, and still they mounted through it, 14 yet would they say, 'Our eyes have been dazzled; nay, we are a people bewitched!' 15