For, how many a community that persisted in evildoing have We dashed into fragments, and raised another people in its stead! 11 So when they felt Our punishment, lo! they began to fly 12 "Do not flee; go back to your halls of pleasure and your habitations, so that you may be interrogated." 13 They cried: Alas for us! we were wrong-doers. 14 And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field that is reaped, extinct (dead). 15 We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in play. 16 If it had been Our wish to take (just) a pastime, We should surely have taken it from the things nearest to Us, if We would do (such a thing)! 17 Nay! We cast the truth against the falsehood, so that it breaks its head, and lo! it vanishes; and woe to you for what 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 Or have they taken gods from the earth who can raise the dead? 21 Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah, they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allah, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe. 22 He is not questioned whatever He does, whereas they will all be questioned. 23 Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say, [O Muhammad], "Produce your proof. This [Qur'an] is the message for those with me and the message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they are turning away. 24 Never did We send any Messenger before you to whom We did not reveal: "There is no god but Me. So serve Me alone." 25 They say, "The All Merciful has taken a son!" Glory be to Him! They are only His honoured servants: 26 that outstrip Him not in speech, and perform as He commands. 27 He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede except for him whom He likes, and they fear with awe of Him. (The Holy Prophets and virtuous people will be given the permission to intercede. Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him – will be the first to intercede.) 28 ۞ And if any of them were to say: "Behold, I am deity beside Him" - that one We should requite with hell: thus do We requite all [such] evildoers. 29