Sura 15, Al-Hijr Valley (Al-Hijr)

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

[15:1] A.L.R.* These (letters) are proofs of this scripture; a profound Quran.
Footnote

[15:2] Certainly, those who disbelieved will wish they were submitters.

[15:3] Let them eat, enjoy, and remain blinded by wishful thinking; they will find out.

[15:4] We never annihilated any community, except in accordance with a specific, predetermined time.

[15:5] The end of any community can never be advanced, nor delayed.

[15:6] They said, "O you who received this reminder, you are crazy.

[15:7] "Why do you not bring down the angels, if you are truthful?"

[15:8] We do not send down the angels except for specific functions. Otherwise, no one will be respited.

God's Messenger of the Covenant*

[15:9] Absolutely, we have revealed the reminder, and, absolutely, we will preserve it.*
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[15:10] We have sent (messengers) before you to the communities in the past.

[15:11] Every time a messenger went to them, they ridiculed him.

[15:12] We thus control the minds of the guilty.

[15:13] Consequently, they cannot believe in him. This has been the system since the past generations.

[15:14] Even if we opened for them a gate into the sky, through which they climb;

[15:15] they will say, "Our eyes have been deceived. We have been bewitched."

[15:16] We placed galaxies in the sky, and adorned it for the beholders.

[15:17] And we guarded it against every rejected devil.

[15:18] If any of them sneaks around to listen, a mighty projectile will chase him back.

[15:19] As for the earth, we constructed it, and placed on it stabilizers (mountains), and we grew on it a perfect balance of everything.

[15:20] We made it habitable for you,* and for creatures you do not provide for.
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[15:21] There is nothing that we do not own infinite amounts thereof. But we send it down in precise measure.

[15:22] And we send the winds as pollinators, and cause water to come down from the sky for you to drink. Otherwise, you could not keep it palatable.

[15:23] It is we who control life and death, and we are the ultimate inheritors.

[15:24] And we fully know those among you who advance, and we fully know those who regress.

[15:25] Your Lord will surely summon them. He is Most Wise, Omniscient.

The Human Race

[15:26] We created the human being from aged mud, like the potter's clay.

[15:27] As for the jinns, we created them, before that, from blazing fire.

[15:28] Your Lord said to the angels, "I am creating a human being from aged mud, like the potter's clay.

[15:29] "Once I perfect him, and blow into him from My spirit, you shall fall prostrate before him."

[15:30] The angels fell prostrate; all of them,

[15:31] except Iblis (Satan). He refused to be with the prostrators.

[15:32] He said, "O Iblis (Satan), why are you not with the prostrators?"

[15:33] He said, "I am not to prostrate before a human being, whom You created from aged mud, like the potter's clay."

[15:34] He said, "Therefore, you must get out; you are banished.

[15:35] "You have incurred My condemnation until the Day of Judgment."

[15:36] He said, "My Lord, respite me until the day they are resurrected."

[15:37] He said, "You are respited.

[15:38] "Until the specified day and time."

[15:39] He said, "My Lord, since You have willed that I go astray, I will surely entice them on earth; I will send them all astray.

[15:40] "Except those among Your worshipers who are devoted absolutely to You alone."

[15:41] He said, "This is a law that is inviolable.

[15:42] "You have no power over My servants. You only have power over the strayers who follow you.

[15:43] "And Hell awaits them all.

[15:44] "It will have seven gates. Each gate will get a specific share of them."

[15:45] As for the righteous, they will enjoy gardens and springs.

[15:46] Enter therein, peaceful and secure.

[15:47] We remove all jealousy from their hearts. Like one family, they will be on adjacent furnishings.

[15:48] Never will they suffer any fatigue therein; never will they be evicted therefrom.

[15:49] Inform My servants that I am the Forgiver, Most Merciful.

[15:50] And that My retribution is the most painful retribution.

Angels Visit Abraham

[15:51] Inform them about Abraham's guests.

[15:52] When they entered his quarters, they said, "Peace." He said, "We are apprehensive about you."

[15:53] They said, "Do not be apprehensive. We have good news for you: an enlightened son."

[15:54] He said, "How can you give me such good news, when I am so old? Do you still give me this good news?"

[15:55] They said, "The good news we give you is true; do not despair."

[15:56] He said, "None despairs of his Lord's mercy, except the strayers."

[15:57] He said, "What is your mission, O messengers?"

[15:58] They said, "We are being dispatched to guilty people.

[15:59] "As for Lot's family, we will save them all.

[15:60] "But not his wife; she is destined to be with the doomed."

Lot

[15:61] The messengers went to Lot's town.

[15:62] He said, "You are unknown people."

[15:63] They said, "We bring to you what they have been doubting.

[15:64] "We bring to you the truth; we are truthful.

[15:65] "You shall take your family during the night. Stay behind them, and make sure that none of you looks back. Go straight as commanded."

[15:66] We delivered to him this command: those people are to be annihilated in the morning.

[15:67] The people of the city came joyfully.

[15:68] He said, "These are my guests; do not embarrass me.

[15:69] "Fear GOD, and do not shame me."

[15:70] They said, "Did we not enjoin you from contacting anyone?"

[15:71] He said, "Here are my daughters, if you must."

[15:72] But, alas, they were totally blinded by their lust.

[15:73] Consequently, the disaster struck them in the morning.

[15:74] We turned it upside down, and showered them with devastating rocks.

[15:75] This is a lesson for those who possess intelligence.

[15:76] This will always be the system.

[15:77] This is a sign for the believers.

[15:78] The people of the woods also were transgressors.

[15:79] Consequently, we avenged from them, and both communities are fully documented.

[15:80] The people of Al-Hijr disbelieved the messengers.

[15:81] We gave them our revelations, but they disregarded them.

[15:82] They used to carve secure homes out of the mountains.

[15:83] The disaster hit them in the morning.

[15:84] What they hoarded did not help them.

End of the World Unveiled*

[15:85] We did not create the heavens and the earth, and everything between them, except for a specific purpose. The end of the world will come, so treat them with benign neglect.
Footnote

[15:86] Your Lord is the Creator, the Omniscient.

[15:87] We have given you the seven pairs, and the great Quran.

[15:88] Do not be jealous of what we bestowed upon the other (messengers), and do not be saddened (by the disbelievers), and lower your wing for the believers.

[15:89] And proclaim: "I am the manifest warner."

[15:90] We will deal with the dividers.

[15:91] They accept the Quran only partially.

[15:92] By your Lord, we will question them all,

[15:93] about everything they have done.

[15:94] Therefore, carry out the orders given to you, and disregard the idol worshipers.

[15:95] We will spare you the mockers,

[15:96] who set up another god beside GOD. They will surely find out.

[15:97] We know full well that you may be annoyed by their utterances.

[15:98] You shall sing the praises of your Lord, and be with the prostrators.

[15:99] And worship your Lord, in order to attain certainty.*
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