The Romans (Al-Room)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ AlifLaamMeem. 1 The Byzantines have been defeated 2 In the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome. 3 Within three to nine years. The decision of the matter, before and after (these events) is only with Allah, (before the defeat of Romans by the Persians, and after, i.e. the defeat of the Persians by the Romans). And on that Day, the believers (i.e. Muslims) will rejoice (at the victory given by Allah to the Romans against the Persians), 4 in the victory of Allah. Allah gives victory to whosoever He will, and He is the Mighty, the Merciful. 5 This is the promise of God. God does not ignore His promise, but many people do not know. 6 They only know the superficial realities of the worldly life and they are unaware of the life to come. 7 Do they not think deeply (in their ownselves) about themselves (how Allah created them from nothing, and similarly He will resurrect them)? Allah has created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, except with truth and for an appointed term. And indeed many of mankind deny the Meeting with their Lord. [See Tafsir At-Tabari, Part 21, Page 24]. 8 Do they not travel in the land, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength, and they tilled the earth and populated it in greater numbers than these (pagans) have done, and there came to them their Messengers with clear proofs. Surely, Allah wronged them not, but they used to wrong themselves. 9 Then evil was the consequence to those who dealt in evil, because they denied the revelations of Allah and made a mock of them. 10