Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
Ha. Mim. 1 By the Clear Book 2 Lo! We have appointed it a Lecture, in Arabic that haply ye may understand. 3 It (the Quran) exists in the original Book with Us which is certainly Most Exalted, full of wisdom and (beyond linguistic structures). 4 Should We have withdrawn the Reminder from you as you are a people who exceed the bounds? 5 How many a Prophet We sent among the ancients, 6 No Prophet came to them whom they did not mock. 7 So We destroyed (them)- stronger in power than these;- and (thus) has passed on the Parable of the peoples of old. 8 Yet, if you ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they will answer: 'The Almighty, the Knower created them' 9 (Yea, the same that) has made for you the earth (like a carpet) spread out, and has made for you roads (and channels) therein, in order that ye may find guidance (on the way); 10 And Who sendeth down from the heaven water in measure; then We quicken a dead land therewith: even so ye shall be brought forth. 11 He Who created all the pairs, and appointed for you ships and cattle whereupon ye ride. 12 in order that you might gain mastery over them, and that, whenever you have mastered them, you might remember your Sustainer's blessings and say: "Limitless in His glory is He who has made [all] this subservient to our use - since [but for Him,] we would not have been able to attain to it. 13 It is to our Lord that we shall eventually return.” 14 AND YET, they attribute to Him offspring from among some of the beings created by Him! Verily, most obviously bereft of all gratitude is man! 15