Or (take) the similitude of one who passed by a hamlet, all in ruins to its roofs. He said: "Oh! how shall Allah bring it (ever) to life, after (this) its death?" but Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). He said: "How long didst thou tarry (thus)?" He said: (Perhaps) a day or part of a day." He said: "Nay, thou hast tarried thus a hundred years; but look at thy food and thy drink; they show no signs of age; and look at thy donkey: And that We may make of thee a sign unto the people, Look further at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh." When this was shown clearly to him, he said: "I know that Allah hath power over all things."

Thus have We placed leaders in every town, its wicked men, to plot (and burrow) therein: but they only plot against their own souls, and they perceive it not.

How many towns have We destroyed (for their sins)? Our punishment took them on a sudden by night or while they slept for their afternoon rest.

Whenever We sent a prophet to a town, We took up its people in suffering and adversity, in order that they might learn humility.

Never did We destroy a population that had not a term decreed and assigned beforehand.

There is not a population but We shall destroy it before the Day of Judgment or punish it with a dreadful Penalty: that is written in the (eternal) Record.

Then they proceeded: until, when they came to the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down, but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: "If thou hadst wished, surely thou couldst have exacted some recompense for it!"

(As to those) before them, not one of the populations which We destroyed believed: will these believe?

How many were the populations We utterly destroyed because of their iniquities, setting up in their places other peoples?

But there is a ban on any population which We have destroyed: that they shall not return,

How many populations have We destroyed, which were given to wrong-doing? They tumbled down on their roofs. And how many wells are lying idle and neglected, and castles lofty and well-built?

And to how many populations did I give respite, which were given to wrong-doing? in the end I punished them. To me is the destination (of all).

Had it been Our Will, We could have sent a warner to every centre of population.

Never did We destroy a population, but had its warners -

And how many populations We destroyed, which exulted in their life (of ease and plenty)! now those habitations of theirs, after them, are deserted,- All but a (miserable) few! and We are their heirs!

Never did We send a warner to a population, but the wealthy ones among them said: "We believe not in the (Message) with which ye have been sent."

Just in the same way, whenever We sent a Warner before thee to any people, the wealthy ones among them said: "We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we will certainly follow in their footsteps."

And how many cities, with more power than thy city which has driven thee out, have We destroyed (for their sins)? and there was none to aid them.

How many populations that insolently opposed the Command of their Lord and of His messengers, did We not then call to account,- to severe account?- and We imposed on them an exemplary Punishment.

难道你没有看见那个人吗？他经过一个荒凉的颓废的城市，他说：“真主怎样使这个已死的城市复活呢？”故真主使他在死亡的状态下逗留了一百年，然後使他复活。他说：“你逗留了多久？”他说：“我逗留了一日，或不到一日。”他说：“不然，你已逗留了一百年。你看你的饮食，没有腐败。你看你的驴子。我要以你为世人的迹象。你看这些骸骨，我怎样配合他，怎样以肉套在它的上面。”当他明白这件事的时候，他说：“我知道真主对於万事是全能的。”

我这样使-个城市都有一些罪魁，以便他们在那里用计谋；其实，他们的计谋，只害自己，但他们不自觉。

有许多城市曾被我毁灭了；我的刑罚，在他们过夜的时候，或在他们午睡的时候，降临他们。

我-派遣一个先知到一个城市去，（而他被人否认），我总要以穷困和患难惩治其居民，以便他们谦逊。

我不毁灭一个城市则已，但毁灭它，就有一个可知的定期。

一切市镇，在复活日之前，我都要加以毁灭，或加以严厉的惩罚，这是记录在天经里的。

他俩又同行，来到了一个城市，就向城里居民求食，他们不肯款待。后来他俩在城里发现一堵墙快要倒塌了，他就把那堵墙修理好了，穆萨说：“如果你意欲，你必为这件工作而索取工钱。”

在他们之前，我所毁灭的城市，没有一个曾信迹象的。现在，他们会信迹象吗？

我曾毁灭了许多不义的乡村，随后，我曾创造了别的民众。

我所毁灭的市镇，想复返人世，那是不可能的。

有许多城市居民不义，而我毁灭他们，地上屋顶尚存， 并且有若干被遗弃的水井和被建成的大厦。

有许多城市，居民不义，而我优容他们，随后，我惩治他们， 我是唯一的归宿。

假若我意欲，我必在每座城市中派遣一个警告者。

我不毁灭任何城市，除非那城市里已有过若干警告者，

我曾毁灭许多城市，那些城市里的居民，过一种骄奢的生活。这些是他们的居住地，从他们灭亡之后，除很少的时间外，无人居住；我是他们的继承。

每逢我派遣警告者到一个城市去，其中豪华的人们总是说：“我们的确不信你的使命。”

在你之前，每逢我这样派遣警告者到一个城市去，那里的豪华者总是说：“我们确已发现我们的祖先是信奉一种宗教的，我们确是遵循他们的遗迹的。”

有许多城市，其居民的势力，胜过那驱逐你的城市的居民；我曾毁灭了他们，他们没有任何援助者。

有许多城市的居民，曾违抗他们的主和众使者的命令，我将严格地审训他们，严厉的惩罚他们。