Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
Ha-Meem. (Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah, and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings.) 1 By the clear Book, 2 Verily We! We have made it an Arabic Qur'an that haply ye may reflect. 3 and behold, it is in the Essence of the Book, with Us; sublime indeed, wise. 4 [O YOU who deny the truth!] Should We, perchance, withdraw this reminder from you altogether, seeing that you are people bent on wasting your own selves? 5 Many a prophet had We sent to the earlier communities, 6 And not a prophet came unto them but him they were wont to mock. 7 so We destroyed those who were mightier in courage than they. And the example of the ancients has passed away. 8 And if you should ask them, "Who has created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "They were created by the Exalted in Might, the Knowing." 9 Who hath made for you the earth a bed, and hath made for you paths therein that haply ye may be directed. 10 That sends down (from time to time) rain from the sky in due measure;- and We raise to life therewith a land that is dead; even so will ye be raised (from the dead);- 11 He who created pairs of everything, and fashioned for you boats and beasts on which you ride, 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 surely unto our Lord we are turning.' 14 Yet they make some of His creatures His offspring! Man is surely most ungrateful. 15