The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

15. AL-HIJR
A Meccan sura which takes its title from the reference to the people of al-Hijr
(verses 80–4). These are an example of the many who disbelieved and
rejected their prophets. Each has its own time for punishment so the Prophet
should bear patiently, not grieve over what the disbelievers say, and continue
with his worship. The sura uses the example of nature and Iblis’s insistence
on corrupting people to show, in turn, God’s grace and the danger Satan
personifies.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 Alif Lam Ra
These are the verses of the Scripture, a Quran that makes things
clear. 2 The disbelievers may well come to wish they had submitted
to God, 3 so [Prophet] leave them to eat and enjoy themselves. Let
[false] hopes distract them: they will come to know. 4 Never have We
destroyed a community that did not have a set time; 5 no community
can bring its time forward, nor delay it. 6 They say, ‘Receiver of this
Quran! You are definitely mad. 7 Why do you not bring us the
angels, if you are telling the truth?’ 8 But We send down the angels
only to bring justice and then these people will not be reprieved. 9 We
have sent down the Quran Ourself, and We Ourself will guard it.
Even before you [Prophet], 10 We sent messengers among the various
communities of old, 11 but they mocked every single messenger that
came to them: 12 in this way We make the message slip through the
hearts of evildoers. 13 They will not believe in it. That was what
happened with the peoples of long ago, 14 and even if We opened a
gateway into Heaven for them and they rose through it, higher and
higher, 15 they would still say, ‘Our eyes are hallucinating. We are
bewitched.’
16 We have set constellations up in the sky and made it beautiful for
all to see, 17 and guarded it from every stoned satan: a 18 any eavesdropper
will be pursued by a clearly visible flame. 19 As for the earth,
We have spread it out, set firm mountains on it, and made everything
a See 72: 8–9.