Blessed is He who, if that were His will, could give thee better (things) than those,- Gardens beneath which rivers flow; and He could give thee palaces (secure to dwell in). 10 Aye! they belie the Hour; and We have gotten ready for him who belieth the Hour a Flame. 11 When it seeth them from afar, they hear the crackling and the roar thereof. 12 And when they are chained together and flung into a narrow space therein, they will begin to call for death. 13 [But they will be told:] "Pray not today for one single extinction, but pray for many extinctions!" 14 Ask them: "Is this better or a garden for everlasting abode which has been promised the pious and devout? It would be their guerdon and their destination. 15 For them therein is whatever they wish, [while] abiding eternally. It is ever upon your Lord a promise [worthy to be] requested. 16 And on the Day when He will gather them together and that which they worship besides Allah [idols, angels, pious men, saints, 'Iesa (Jesus) - son of Maryam (Mary), etc.]. He will say: "Was it you who misled these My slaves or did they (themselves) stray from the (Right) Path?" 17 They will answer, "Hallowed be You! It was not proper for us to choose any guardian other than You. But You gave them and their fathers the comforts of this life, so that they forgot Your reminder and thus brought destruction upon themselves." 18 God will say (to the idolaters), "Your idols have rejected your faith. You cannot avoid their rejection nor can you find any help. Anyone of you who commits injustice will be made to suffer a great torment." 19 We never sent before you apostles who did not eat food and walk the market places. We make some of you the means of trying the others. So will you persevere? Your Lord is always watching. 20