The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ ALIF LAM RA. These are the verses of the Book and the perspicuous oration. 1 And it will come to pass that those who are [now] bent on denying this truth will wish that they had surrendered themselves to God [in their life time]. 2 Let them eat and enjoy life, and let (false) hope beguile them. They will come to know! 3 Never a city have We destroyed, but it had a known decree, 4 No group may advance its appointed promise nor postpone it. 5 And they say: O you to whom the Reminder has been revealed! you are most surely insane: 6 Why do you not bring down angels upon us if you are indeed truthful?" 7 [Yet] We never send down angels otherwise than in accordance with the [demands of] truth; and [were the angels to appear now,] lo! they [who reject this divine writ] would have no further respite! 8 We have sent down this Exposition, and We will guard it. 9 We had also sent apostles to people of earlier persuasions. 10 but there was never a messenger who came to them but they mocked him: 11 Even so do we let it creep into the hearts of the sinners - 12 They will not believe in it, though they have before them the example of former peoples, 13 And even if We open to them a gateway of heaven, so that they ascend into it all the while, 14 they would surely have said, "It is only our eyes that are spellbound! Nay, we have been bewitched! 15