Vanity (Al-Zukhruf)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Ha-Meem. (Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah, and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings.) 1 By the Book that makes things clear,- 2 Lo! We have appointed it a Lecture, in Arabic that haply ye may understand. 3 and behold, it is in the Essence of the Book, with Us; sublime indeed, wise. 4 So shall We divert the advice away from you, because you are a nation that exceeds the limits? 5 How many a Prophet did We send to the earlier peoples! 6 but not a Prophet came to them, without they mocked at him; 7 Then We destroyed men mightier than these in prowess; and the example of the men of old hath gone (before them). 8 If thou askest them, 'Who created the heavens and earth?' they will say, 'The All-mighty, the All-knowing created them.' 9 (It is) He who made the earth to be a cradle for you and made in it ways for you, in order that you are guided. 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 And He Who created pairs of all things, and made for you of the ships and the cattle what you ride on, 12 so that you can sit upon their backs and then remember the Favors of your Lord and say: 'Exaltations to Him who has subjected these to us otherwise, we ourselves were not capable of it, 13 And verily, to Our Lord we indeed are to return! 14 Yet they have assigned to Him a part of His own servants! Man is dearly unthankful. 15