The Romans (Al-Room)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
۞ Alif, Lam, Meem. 1 The Romans have been conquered 2 in a land close by. But, after their defeat they shall become the victors. 3 in a few years. All power belongs to Allah both before and after. On that day will the believers rejoice 4 With the help of Allah; He helps whomever He wills; and only He is the Almighty, the Most Merciful. 5 (It is) a Promise of Allah (i.e. Allah will give victory to the Romans against the Persians), and Allah fails not in His Promise, but most of men know not. 6 They know only the outside appearance of the life of the world (i.e. the matters of their livelihood, like irrigating or sowing or reaping, etc.), and they are heedless of the Hereafter. 7 Do they not contemplate within themselves? Allah has not created the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth and for a specified term. And indeed, many of the people, in [the matter of] the meeting with their Lord, are disbelievers. 8 What, have they not journeyed in the land and beheld how was the end of those before them? They were stronger than themselves in might, and they ploughed up the earth and cultivated it more than they themselves have cultivated it; and their Messengers came to them with the clear signs; and God would never wrong them, but themselves they wronged. 9 Then the end of those who did evil was the worst [consequence] because they denied the signs of Allah and used to ridicule them. 10