The Hijjr Valley (Al-Hijjr)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
۞ Alif. Lam. Ra'. These are the verses of the Book, and a Clear Qur'an. 1 Often will those who disbelieve wish that they had been Muslims. 2 Leave them to feast and revel, beguiled by hope; they will come to know soon. 3 We have never destroyed a township without a definite decree having been issued; 4 No group may advance its appointed promise nor postpone it. 5 (The unbelievers have said), "You to whom the Quran has been revealed are insane. 6 Why do you not bring us the angels, if you should be among the truthful?" 7 We send not the angels down save with judgment, and then they would not be respited. 8 Indeed We have sent down the Qur’an, and indeed We Ourselves surely are its Guardians. (This is one of the miracles of the Qur’an – no one has been able to change even one letter of its text, despite every effort. It has remained in its original form since the 6th Century (A. D) and will remain so forever. Other Holy Books such as the Torah and the Bible have lost their originality.) 9 Indeed, We sent Messengers before thee, among the factions of the ancients, 10 But never came a messenger to them but they mocked him. 11 Thus do We make it traverse the hearts of the guilty: 12 They do not believe in the Truth and they exactly follow the tradition of the ancient (unbelievers) 13 And even if We open to them a gateway of heaven, so that they ascend into it all the while, 14 They would say, "Our eyes have only been dazzled. Rather, we are a people affected by magic." 15