How many a city that was evildoing We have shattered, and set up after it another people! 11 Then, when they perceived (saw) Our Torment (coming), behold, they (tried to) flee from it. 12 "Do not flee; go back to your halls of pleasure and your habitations, so that you may be interrogated." 13 "Woe, alas," they said, "we were really sinful." 14 And this they did not stop crying out until We made them stubble, silent, and still. 15 We created not the heaven and the earth, and whatsoever between them is, as playing; 16 Had We intended that We should choose a sport, surely We would choose it from before Us - if We were ever going to do that. 17 In fact We strike the truth against the false, which shatters it, and it disappears. Woe to you for what you attribute (to Him)! 18 And whoever is in the heavens and the earth is His; and those who are with Him are not proud to serve Him, nor do they grow weary. 19 They glorify Him night and day, without flagging. 20 Or have they taken (for worship) gods from the earth who can raise (the dead)? 21 Had there been therein (in the heavens and the earth) gods besides Allah, then verily both would have been ruined. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, (High is He) above what they attribute to Him! 22 He shall be questioned not as to that which He doth, while they shall be questioned. 23 Have they chosen other gods besides God? (Muhammad), ask them, "Show the proof (in support of such belief). This is (the Quran) which tells us about the (beliefs of the people) in my time and those who lived before me." Most of them do not know. Moreover, the truth is that they neglect (the question of belief altogether). 24 And We sent no messenger before thee but We inspired him, (saying): There is no Allah save Me (Allah), so worship Me. 25 And yet they say: "Ar-Rahman has begotten a son." Too exalted is He! In fact, those (they call His sons) were His honoured votaries. 26 They do not precede Him in speech and (only) according to His commandment do they act. 27 He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede without His permission. Indeed they themselves stand in awe of Him. 28 ۞ If any of them should say, "I am a god besides Him", such a one We should reward with Hell: thus do We reward those who do wrong. 29