[15:1]
A.L.R.* These (letters) are proofs of this scripture; a profound Quran.
[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.
[15:9]
Absolutely, we have revealed the reminder, and, absolutely, we will preserve it.*
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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."
[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.
[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.
[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.*