Revealed during the intensely difficult late Makkan period when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was facing relentless mockery and stubborn opposition from the Quraysh, Surah Al-Hijr (The Rocky Tract) was sent down as a source of psychological comfort and divine reassurance. To address the disbelievers' arrogant demands for physical miracles and their ridicule of the revelation, the chapter establishes a monumental divine guarantee: that God Himself has sent down the Quran and He alone will perfectly preserve and protect it from any corruption until the end of time. The Surah takes its name from the people of Al-Hijr (the nation of Thamud), who arrogantly believed that carving massive, impenetrable mansions directly into solid mountain rock would protect them from divine decree, yet their destruction was swift and total, serving as a stark historical warning that worldly power and material fortifications cannot deter ultimate justice. The chapter also revisits the cosmic origins of human struggle, detailing Satan’s arrogant refusal to prostrate to Adam and his sinister vow to visually "beautify" sin on earth, thereby warning believers about the deceptive illusions of temptation. Ultimately, the Surah commands the Prophet to publicly and fearlessly declare his message without being saddened by the worldly wealth or numbers of his opponents, culminating in a beautiful, grounding directive to simply ignore the mockers, continuously glorify the Creator, and persist in unwavering worship until the moment of ultimate certainty—death—arrives.
Transliteration
Aliflamra tilka ayatu alkitabi waquranin mubeenin
Translation
Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the Verses of the Book; a Quran that makes things clear
Transliteration
Rubama yawaddu allatheena kafaroo law kanoo muslimeena
Translation
Perhaps those who disbelieve would like to become Muslims
Transliteration
Tharhum yakuloo wayatamattaAAoo wayulhihimu alamalu fasawfa yaAAlamoona
Translation
Leave them to eat, and enjoy, and be lulled by hope. They will find out
Transliteration
Wama ahlakna min qaryatin illa walaha kitabun maAAloomun
Translation
We have never destroyed a town unless it had a set time
Transliteration
Ma tasbiqu min ommatin ajalaha wama yastakhiroona
Translation
No nation can bring its time forward, nor can they delay it
Transliteration
Waqaloo ya ayyuha allathee nuzzila AAalayhi alththikru innaka lamajnoonun
Translation
And they said, “O you who received the message, you are insane.”
Transliteration
Law ma tateena bialmalaikati in kunta mina alssadiqeena
Translation
Why do you not bring us the angels, if you are truthful?”
Transliteration
Ma nunazzilu almalaikata illa bialhaqqi wama kanoo ithan munthareena
Translation
We do not send the angels down except with reason, and they will not be held back
Transliteration
Inna nahnu nazzalna alththikra wainna lahu lahafithoona
Translation
Surely We revealed the Message, and We will surely preserve it
Transliteration
Walaqad arsalna min qablika fee shiyaAAi alawwaleena
Translation
We sent others before you, to the former communities
Transliteration
Wama yateehim min rasoolin illa kanoo bihi yastahzioona
Translation
But no messenger came to them, but they ridiculed him
Transliteration
Kathalika naslukuhu fee quloobi almujrimeena
Translation
Thus We slip it into the hearts of the guilty
Transliteration
La yuminoona bihi waqad khalat sunnatu alawwaleena
Translation
They do not believe in it, though the ways of the ancients have passed away
Transliteration
Walaw fatahna AAalayhim baban mina alssamai fathalloo feehi yaAArujoona
Translation
Even if We opened for them a gateway into the sky, and they began to ascend through it
Transliteration
Laqaloo innama sukkirat absaruna bal nahnu qawmun mashooroona
Translation
They would still say, “Our eyes are hallucinating; in fact, we are people bewitched.”
Transliteration
Walaqad jaAAalna fee alssamai buroojan wazayyannaha lilnnathireena
Translation
We placed constellations in the sky, and made them beautiful to the beholders
Transliteration
Wahafithnaha min kulli shaytanin rajeemin
Translation
And We guarded them from every outcast devil
Transliteration
Illa mani istaraqa alssamAAa faatbaAAahu shihabun mubeenun
Translation
Except one who steals a hearing, and is followed by a visible projectile
Transliteration
Waalarda madadnaha waalqayna feeha rawasiya waanbatna feeha min kulli shayin mawzoonin
Translation
We spread the earth, and placed stabilizers in it, and in it We grew all things in proper measure
Transliteration
WajaAAalna lakum feeha maAAayisha waman lastum lahu biraziqeena
Translation
And in it We created livelihoods for you, and for those for whom you are not the providers