For, how many a community that persisted in evildoing have We dashed into fragments, and raised another people in its stead! 11 Then, when they perceived Our chastisement they took to their heels and fled. 12 The angels said to them, “Do not flee and return to the comforts that were given to you and to your homes, perhaps you will be questioned.” 13 They said: O woe to us! surely we were unjust. 14 And this ceased not to be their cry till We made them cut off, extinct. 15 And We created not the heaven and the earth and that which is in between in play. 16 If We willed to choose a pastime, We could have chosen it from Ourselves – if We wanted to. 17 Rather, We dash the truth upon falsehood, and it destroys it, and thereupon it departs. And for you is destruction from that which you describe. 18 To Him belongs all those who are in the heavens and the earth. Those who are closer to Him are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they get tired of worshipping. 19 They glorify (Him) night and day; they flag not. 20 Have they taken earthly gods who are such that they raise up the dead to life? 21 If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been confusion in both! but glory to Allah, the Lord of the Throne: (High is He) above what they attribute to Him! 22 He cannot be called to account for whatever He does, whereas they will be called to account: 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 not before thee an apostle but We revealed unto him that there is no god but I, so worship Me. 25 They said, "The Beneficent God has given birth to a son. He is too Exalted to give birth to a son." (Those whom they think are God's sons) are only His honorable servants. 26 They do not outstrip Him in speech and only act as He commands. 27 He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him whom He accepteth, and they quake for 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