[2-5] The time is not far when the same people who have today refused to accept (the Message of Islam) will regret and say, "we wish we had surrendered to it!" Leave them alone to eat, drink and be merry and to be deluded by false hopes. They will soon realize it. We had prescribed a respite for every habitation that we destroyed before this.2 No community is destroyed before the expiry of its respite nor it is allowed to survive it.
[6-9] They say, "You, upon whom the Divine word3 has been sent down, are surely insane. Why do you not bring angels before us, if what you say be true?" We do not send down angels in this way. When they come down,4 they come down with truth, and then the people are not given respite.5 As regards this Admonition, it is We Who have sent it down, and We Ourself will preserve it.6
[10-15] O Muhammad! Already We have sent Messengers before you among many of the ancient peoples. But they mocked at each of the Messengers who came to them. Though We cause it (Admonition) to enter into their hearts (like a rod), they would not believe in it.7 And the same has been the way of such people since ancient times. Even if We had opened a gate for them in heaven, and they had begun to ascend through it higher during day time, they would have said. "Our eyes have been dazzled; nay, we have been bewitched."
[16-18] It is We Who have divided the heavens into many fortified spheres8 for the sake of administration and adorned and decked them out fair to the beholders,9 and guarded them from every accursed Satan.10 No Satan can pass through them except that an eaves-dropper might hear something,11 but a fiery flame pursues that eaves-dropper.12
[19-20] We stretched forth the Earth, and set mountains firmly upon it, and caused to grow therein every kind of vegetable in balanced measure.13 And We provided therein means of sustenance for you and for many other creatures for whom you do not provide.
[22] It is We Who send the fertilizing winds: then We send down' water from heaven, and then We give it to you to drink; and it is not you who hold the store of this wealth.
[23-25] It is We Who give life and death and We will be the inheritors of all.15 We have full knowledge about those who lived before you, and We are keeping watch over their successors. Most surely your Lord will gather them together for He is All-Wise, All-Knowing.16
[26-43] We created Man from dried clay of rotten earth:17 and before him We had created Jinn from the flame of heat.18 Then recall to mind the time when your Lord said to the angels, "I am going to create a man from dried clay of rotten earth. When I have brought him to perfection and breathed of My spirit19 into him, you should bow down before him all together." Accordingly all the angels bowed down except Iblis: he refused to join those who bowed down.20 The Lord said, "O Iblis! What is the matter with you that you have not joined those who have bowed down?" He replied, "It does not behoove me to bow down before this man whom you have created from dried clay of rotten earth." The Lord said, "Get away from here, for you have become accursed: the curse shall rest upon you till the Day of Retribution."21 .At this he requested, "My Lord! then give me respite till that Day when mankind shall be resurrected." Allah said, "Well! you are given respite till the Day of predestined time." Iblis replied, "Lord, because Thou hast beguiled me, I will create allurements for them22 and seduce them except those of Thy servants whom Thou hast chosen for Thyself from amongst them. " Allah replied, "This is the straight way that reaches Me.23 Indeed, thou shalt have no power over My sincere servants. Thou wilt succeed only in beguiling those who shall follow thee,24 and they shall all be destined for Hell."25
[44-48] This Hell (with which the followers of Iblis have been threatened) has seven gates, and each gate has been specified for a separate group of them.26 In contrast to them the pious people27 shall go to the gardens and fountains. (It will be said to them), "Enter into these in peace and security." We will remove from their hearts even the little bit of spite that will be therein,28 and they will become like brethren, and sit face to face on couches. They will have no toil to weary them nor will they be cast out from there.29
[51-60] And tell them the story of the guests of Abraham.30 When they came to him, they said, "Peace be to you". But he replied, "We are afraid of you."31 They said, "Do not be afraid of us. We give you the good news of a sagacious son."32 Abraham said, "What! do you give me the good news of a son in my old age? Just consider what kind of good news you are giving me." They replied, "We are giving you a true good news; you should not be of those who despair". Abraham replied, only those who go astray, despair of their Lord's Mercy?' Then he asked them, "O Messengers of Allah! What is the expedition for which you have been sent?"33 They said, "We have been sent to (punish) a criminal people34 with the exception of Lot's family; we will rescue all of them except his wife, who (Allah says) has been destined to remain with those who will stay behind."
[61-66] Afterwards when these envoys came to the house of Lot,35 he said, "You appear to be strangers."36 They answered, "Nay, but we have come to you with that concerning which these people had doubts. We tell you the truth that we have come to you with the truth. You should, therefore, depart with your people in the last hours of the night and you yourself should follow them in their rear;37 let none of you turn round to look behind;38 go straight where you are being bidden." And We informed him of Our decree that they shall be utterly destroyed by the next morning.
[67-71] And the people of the town rushed rejoicing to the house of Lot.39 He said, "Brethren! These are my guests: therefore do not dishonor me. Fear God and do not put me to shame." They replied, "Have we not forbidden you to plead for all and sundry?" At last Lot pleaded, "Here are my daughters,40 if you are bent on it."
[75-77] There are big Signs in these events for men of understanding. And the smitten territory still lies on the high way.42 Indeed there is an admonition in it for true believers.
[78-79] As the people of Al Aikah43 were unjust, We took vengeance on them. And the ruined habitations of these two Communities lie upon the open highway.44
[80-84] The people of Al Hijr45 also treated the Messengers as impostors and We sent Our Revelations and showed Our Signs to them, but they went on ignoring all these things. They hewed their dwellings into the mountains and apparently lived in full security. But at last a violent blast over took them with the approach of the morning, and all that they had achieved proved of no avail to them.46