How many a city that was evildoing We have shattered, and set up after it another people! 11 When they felt Our punishment coming upon them, they began to flee from it. 12 (They were told): "Flee not, but return to your comforts and to your dwellings. You are likely to be questioned." 13 They said: woe unto us! verily we have been wrong-doers. 14 And this ceased not to be their cry until We made them a harvest reaped, extinguished. 15 And We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, unnecessarily. 16 If We willed to choose a pastime, We could have chosen it from Ourselves – if We wanted to. 17 Nay, We hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it knocks out its brain, and behold, falsehood doth perish! Ah! woe be to you for the (false) things ye ascribe (to Us). 18 To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and on earth. And those who are near Him (i.e. the angels) are not too proud to worship Him, nor are they weary (of His worship). 19 they extol His limitless glory by night and by day, never flagging [therein]. 20 Or have they taken gods from the earth who raise (the dead). 21 Had there been any gods in the heavens and the earth apart from Allah, the order of both the heavens and the earth would have gone to ruins. Glory be to Allah, the Lord of the Throne, Who is far above their false descriptions of Him. 22 He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned. 23 Have they taken gods besides God? Say: "Then bring your proof. Here is the Book of those who are with me, and the Book of those who have gone before me." But most men do not know the truth and turn away. 24 To all the Messengers that were sent before you We revealed that I am the only God to be worshipped. 25 And they say: The Beneficent hath taken unto Himself a son. Be He Glorified! Nay, but (those whom they call sons) are honoured slaves; 26 They cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command. 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 ۞ The recompense of those of them who say that they are the Lord instead of God will be hell; thus, do We recompense the unjust ones. 29