وَلَقَدِ ٱخۡتَرۡنَٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
And indeed We already chose them, out of a knowledge, over the worlds;
وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ مَا فِيهِ بَلَـٰٓؤٞاْ مُّبِينٌ
And We brought them (some) signs wherein there was an evident trial.
إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ لَيَقُولُونَ
Surely these (people) are indeed saying,
إِنۡ هِيَ إِلَّا مَوۡتَتُنَا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمُنشَرِينَ
"Decidedly there is nothing except our first death; and in no way will we be raised up.
فَأۡتُواْ بِـَٔابَآئِنَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ
Then come up with (i.e., bring) our fathers, in case you are sincere!"
أَهُمۡ خَيۡرٌ أَمۡ قَوۡمُ تُبَّعٖ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهُمۡۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ مُجۡرِمِينَ
Are they more charitable, (i.e., better) or the people of Tubbac and the ones even before them? We caused them to perish; surely they were criminals.
وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا لَٰعِبِينَ
And in no way did We create the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them both, playing;