In the name of Allah, the Most Kind, the Most Caring.

1. Ha. Meem.

2. This Book was sent down by Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.

3. We created the skies, the earth, and everything between them for a true reason and for a set time. But those who disbelieve turn away from the warnings they get.

4. Say, "Think about those you pray to besides Allah. Show me what they created on earth, or do they have a share in the skies? Bring me a book from before this one, or some clear proof, if you're telling the truth."

5. Who could be more lost than someone who prays to others besides Allah — others who can't answer them even until the Day of Judgment, and who don't even know they're being prayed to?

6. And when all people are gathered together, those they prayed to will become their enemies, and they'll completely reject their worship.

7. When Our clear verses are read to them, the disbelievers say about the truth when it comes to them, "This is clearly magic."

8. Or they say, "He made it up." Say, "If I made it up, then you can't protect me from Allah at all. He knows best what you're saying about it. He's enough as a witness between me and you, and He's the Most Forgiving, the Most Kind."

9. Say, "I'm not the first messenger ever sent, and I don't know what will happen to me or to you. I only follow what Allah shows me, and I'm just a clear warner."

10. Say, "Think about this — what if it's really from Allah, and you disbelieve in it, even though someone from the Children of Israel has already said it's true and believed, while you proudly refused? Allah doesn't guide people who do wrong."

11. The disbelievers say to the believers, "If this was something good, they wouldn't have believed in it before us." And since they refuse to be guided by it, they'll say, "This is just an old lie."

12. Before this, there was the Book of Moses as a guide and a kindness. And this Book agrees with it, in clear Arabic words, to warn those who do wrong and to give good news to those who do good.

13. Those who say, "Our Lord is Allah," and then keep doing what's right — they won't feel afraid or sad.

14. They're the people of Paradise, where they'll live forever, as a reward for the good things they did.

15. We told every human being to be kind to their parents. A mother carries her baby with difficulty and gives birth with difficulty. Carrying the baby and weaning takes thirty months. Then, when the child grows up and reaches forty years old, he says, "My Lord, help me thank You for all the good things You've given me and my parents. Help me do good things that make You happy, and make my children good too. I have repented to You, and I submit to You."

16. These are the people whose best actions We accept, and We forgive their mistakes. They will be among the people of Paradise. This is the true promise they were given.

17. But some children say to their parents, "Ugh! Are you telling me I'll come back to life after I die, even though many people before me have died and never returned?" Their parents cry out to Allah, "Please believe! Allah's promise is true!" But the child says, "These are just old stories!"

18. These are the people who deserve punishment, just like other groups of humans and jinn who lived before them. They were the losers.

19. Everyone will have different levels based on what they did. Allah will give them exactly what they deserve, and no one will be treated unfairly.

20. On the day when those who didn't believe are brought to the Fire, they'll be told, "You used up all your good things in your life on earth, and you enjoyed them. Today you'll be punished with shame, because you acted proudly on earth without any right, and because you disobeyed."

21. Remember the brother of Aad. He warned his people in the sandy hills. Many warners had come before and after him, saying, "Don't worship anyone except Allah. I'm afraid you'll be punished on a terrible day."

22. They said, "Did you come to turn us away from our gods? Then bring us the punishment you're promising, if you're telling the truth!"

23. He said, "Only Allah knows when it will come. I'm just giving you the message I was sent with. But I see you're acting foolishly."

24. Then, when they saw a cloud coming toward their valleys, they said, "This cloud will bring us rain!" But no — it was the punishment they had asked for, a wind bringing painful punishment.

25. It destroyed everything by Allah's command. In the morning, nothing was left except their homes. That's how We punish people who do wrong.

26. We had given them power and strength that We haven't even given you. We gave them ears, eyes, and hearts. But their ears, eyes, and hearts didn't help them at all, because they rejected Allah's signs. The punishment they used to laugh at finally came to them.

27. We destroyed many towns around you, and We showed them many signs, so that they might turn back to Allah.

28. Why didn't the gods they worshiped to be closer to Allah help them? Those gods disappeared, and all that was left was their lie and what they made up.

29. Remember when We sent a group of jinn to you, to listen to the Quran. When they came close, they said, "Listen carefully!" Then, when it was finished, they hurried back to their people to warn them.

30. They said, "Our people, we heard a Book sent down after Moses. It agrees with what came before it, and it guides to the truth and to a straight path."

31. "Our people, answer Allah's messenger and believe in Him. He will forgive you some of your sins, and protect you from a painful punishment."

32. Whoever doesn't answer Allah's messenger can't escape Him anywhere on earth, and they won't have any protectors besides Him. Those people are clearly lost.

33. Don't they see that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth without getting tired, can bring the dead back to life? Yes, He has power over everything.

34. On the Day when those who disbelieved are brought to the Fire, they'll be asked, "Isn't this real?" They'll say, "Yes, by our Lord!" He will say, "Then taste the punishment, because you didn't believe."

35. So be patient, just like the strong and patient messengers before you. Don't rush things for them. On the Day they see what they were promised, it will feel like they only stayed in this world for an hour of a day. This is a message. Will anyone be destroyed except the corrupt people?