بَل قالوا أَضغاثُ أَحلامٍ بَلِ افتَراهُ بَل هُوَ شاعِرٌ فَليَأتِنا بِآيَةٍ كَما أُرسِلَ الأَوَّلونَ

They even say, “A jumble of dreams,” or “He made it up,” or “He is just a poet.” “Let him bring us a sign, just as the ancients received.”

ما آمَنَت قَبلَهُم مِن قَريَةٍ أَهلَكناها ۖ أَفَهُم يُؤمِنونَ

Not even one of the cities that we destroyed before them believed; will they then believe?

وَما أَرسَلنا قَبلَكَ إِلّا رِجالًا نوحي إِلَيهِم ۖ فَاسأَلوا أَهلَ الذِّكرِ إِن كُنتُم لا تَعلَمونَ

We sent before you only men to whom we revealed. Ask the people of the message, if you don’t know.

وَما جَعَلناهُم جَسَدًا لا يَأكُلونَ الطَّعامَ وَما كانوا خالِدينَ

We didn’t make them bodies that didn’t eat food, nor were they immortal.

ثُمَّ صَدَقناهُمُ الوَعدَ فَأَنجَيناهُم وَمَن نَشاءُ وَأَهلَكنَا المُسرِفينَ

Then, We fulfilled Our promise to them, rescuing them and those We willed while obliterating the transgressors.

وَكَم قَصَمنا مِن قَريَةٍ كانَت ظالِمَةً وَأَنشَأنا بَعدَها قَومًا آخَرينَ

How many sinful communities We shatter, and after them, raised other people?

فَلَمّا أَحَسّوا بَأسَنا إِذا هُم مِنها يَركُضونَ

When they sensed Our power approaching, they tried to flee from it.

لا تَركُضوا وَارجِعوا إِلىٰ ما أُترِفتُم فيهِ وَمَساكِنِكُم لَعَلَّكُم تُسأَلونَ

“Don’t run. Return to your luxuries and your homes, so you may be questioned.”

قالوا يا وَيلَنا إِنّا كُنّا ظالِمينَ

They cried out, “Alas to us! We were indeed wrongdoers.”

فَما زالَت تِلكَ دَعواهُم حَتّىٰ جَعَلناهُم حَصيدًا خامِدينَ

This cry of theirs continued until We made them like harvested crops, extinguished.