إِنَّ في ذٰلِكَ لَآياتٍ وَإِن كُنّا لَمُبتَلينَ

In this, there are lessons, and We are constantly testing.

ثُمَّ أَنشَأنا مِن بَعدِهِم قَرنًا آخَرينَ

Then, after them, We established another generation.

فَأَرسَلنا فيهِم رَسولًا مِنهُم أَنِ اعبُدُوا اللَّهَ ما لَكُم مِن إِلـٰهٍ غَيرُهُ ۖ أَفَلا تَتَّقونَ

We sent a messenger from among them, proclaiming, “Worship God; you have no deity other than Him. Won’t you protect yourselves?”

وَقالَ المَلَأُ مِن قَومِهِ الَّذينَ كَفَروا وَكَذَّبوا بِلِقاءِ الآخِرَةِ وَأَترَفناهُم فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ما هـٰذا إِلّا بَشَرٌ مِثلُكُم يَأكُلُ مِمّا تَأكُلونَ مِنهُ وَيَشرَبُ مِمّا تَشرَبونَ

The leaders of his people who disbelieved and denied the meeting in the Hereafter, and We had given them affluence in the worldly life, countered, “This is merely a man like you, who eats what you eat and drinks what you drink.

وَلَئِن أَطَعتُم بَشَرًا مِثلَكُم إِنَّكُم إِذًا لَخاسِرونَ

If you obey a man like yourselves, you will surely be at a loss.

هَيهاتَ هَيهاتَ لِما توعَدونَ

Far-fetched, far-fetched is what you’re promised.

إِن هِيَ إِلّا حَياتُنَا الدُّنيا نَموتُ وَنَحيا وَما نَحنُ بِمَبعوثينَ

Our life is only this present existence; we live, die, and won’t be resurrected.

إِن هُوَ إِلّا رَجُلٌ افتَرىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا وَما نَحنُ لَهُ بِمُؤمِنينَ

He is just a man inventing lies about God, and we’re not going to believe in him.”

قالَ رَبِّ انصُرني بِما كَذَّبونِ

He pleaded, “My Lord, assist me, because they have denied me.”

قالَ عَمّا قَليلٍ لَيُصبِحُنَّ نادِمينَ

He replied, “In a little while, they will be regretful.”