Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Ha. Mim. 1 I swear by the illustrious Book. 2 Lo! We have appointed it a Lecture, in Arabic that haply ye may understand. 3 Truly, it is inscribed in the Original Book, in Our keeping; it is sublime and full of wisdom. 4 So shall We divert the advice away from you, because you are a nation that exceeds the limits? 5 How many a Prophet We sent among the ancients, 6 no Prophet came to them except that they mocked him, 7 and so, [in the end,] We destroyed them [even though they were] of greater might than these: and the [very] image of those people of old became a thing of the past. 8 And if thou (Muhammad) ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth, they will surely answer: The Mighty, the Knower created them; 9 He who appointed the earth to be a cradle for you, and appointed ways for you therein, that haply you may be guided; 10 And (it is He), who sends down water from the sky in its measure thereby We revive the land that was dead, as such you shall be brought forth. 11 it is He who created all living things in pairs and gave you ships to sail in and beasts to ride upon 12 That you may firmly sit on their backs, then remember the favor of your Lord when you are firmly seated thereon, and say: Glory be to Him Who made this subservient to us and we were not able to do it 13 And indeed we, to our Lord, will [surely] return." 14 And from* His bondmen, they appointed a portion for Him; man is indeed an open ingrate. (* Appointed some of His creation as His sons and daughters). 15