We sent Noah to his people, and he lived with them a thousand years minus fifty. Then they were caught by the deluge for they were evil. 14 Then We delivered him and those in the ark, and made it a sign unto the worlds. 15 We sent Abraham and he said to his people: “Serve Allah and fear Him. This is better for you if you only knew. 16 You worship only [lifeless] idols instead of God, and [thus] you give visible shape to a lie! Behold, those [things and beings] that you worship instead of God have it not in their power to provide sustenance for you: seek, then, all [your] sustenance from God, and worship Him [alone] and be grateful to Him: [for] unto Him you shall be brought back! 17 "And if you deny, then nations before you have denied (their Messengers). And the duty of the Messenger is only to convey (the Message) plainly." 18 Have they not seen how God begins the creation and then turns it back? This is not difficult at all for God. 19 (Muhammad), say to them, "Travel through the land and see how He has begun the creation and how He will invent the next life. God has power over all things. 20 He punishes whom He pleases and has mercy on whom He pleases, and to Him you shall be turned back. 21 And ye cannot escape in the earth nor in the heaven, and beside Allah there is for you no friend nor helper. 22