كَم أَهلَكنا مِن قَبلِهِم مِن قَرنٍ فَنادَوا وَلاتَ حينَ مَناصٍ

How many a generation have We destroyed before them, and they [then] called out; but it was not a time for escape.

وَعَجِبوا أَن جاءَهُم مُنذِرٌ مِنهُم ۖ وَقالَ الكافِرونَ هـٰذا ساحِرٌ كَذّابٌ

And they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves. And the disbelievers say, "This is a magician and a liar.

أَجَعَلَ الآلِهَةَ إِلـٰهًا واحِدًا ۖ إِنَّ هـٰذا لَشَيءٌ عُجابٌ

Has he made the gods [only] one God? Indeed, this is a curious thing."

وَانطَلَقَ المَلَأُ مِنهُم أَنِ امشوا وَاصبِروا عَلىٰ آلِهَتِكُم ۖ إِنَّ هـٰذا لَشَيءٌ يُرادُ

And the eminent among them went forth, [saying], "Continue, and be patient over [the defense of] your gods. Indeed, this is a thing intended.

ما سَمِعنا بِهـٰذا فِي المِلَّةِ الآخِرَةِ إِن هـٰذا إِلَّا اختِلاقٌ

We have not heard of this in the latest religion. This is not but a fabrication.

أَم عِندَهُم خَزائِنُ رَحمَةِ رَبِّكَ العَزيزِ الوَهّابِ

Or do they have the depositories of the mercy of your Lord, the Exalted in Might, the Bestower?

أَم لَهُم مُلكُ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ وَما بَينَهُما ۖ فَليَرتَقوا فِي الأَسبابِ

Or is theirs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and what is between them? Then let them ascend through [any] ways of access.

جُندٌ ما هُنالِكَ مَهزومٌ مِنَ الأَحزابِ

[They are but] soldiers [who will be] defeated there among the companies [of disbelievers].

كَذَّبَت قَبلَهُم قَومُ نوحٍ وَعادٌ وَفِرعَونُ ذُو الأَوتادِ

The people of Noah denied before them, and [the tribe of] 'Aad and Pharaoh, the owner of stakes,

وَثَمودُ وَقَومُ لوطٍ وَأَصحابُ الأَيكَةِ ۚ أُولـٰئِكَ الأَحزابُ

And [the tribe of] Thamud and the people of Lot and the companions of the thicket. Those are the companies.