How many a city that was evildoing We have shattered, and set up after it another people! 11 When they found Our torment approaching them they started to run away from the town. 12 "Do not flee; go back to your halls of pleasure and your habitations, so that you may be interrogated." 13 They said, "Woe to us! We were indeed wrongdoers," 14 and this they kept repeating until We caused them to become like a field mowed down, and reduced to ashes. 15 And We created not the heaven and the earth and that which is in between in play. 16 Had We intended to take a pastime (i.e. a wife or a son, etc.), We could surely have taken it from Us, if We were going to do (that). 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 for, unto Him belong all [beings] that are in the heavens and on earth; and those that are with Him are never too proud to worship Him and never grow weary [thereof]: 19 Nor cease to endeavour praising Him night and day. 20 Or have they taken (for worship) gods from the earth who can raise (the dead)? 21 Had there been other deities in the heavens and the earth besides God, both the heavens and the earth would have been destroyed. God, the Lord of the Throne, is too Glorious to be as they think He is. 22 None shall question Him about what He does, but they shall be questioned. 23 Or, have they taken gods besides Him? Say: Bring your proof; this is the reminder of those with me and the reminder of those before me. Nay! most of them do not know the truth, so they turn aside. 24 And We sent never a Messenger before thee except that We revealed to him, saying, 'There is no god but I; so serve Me.' 25 They say:' 'The All-merciful has taken to Him a son.' Glory be to Him! Nay, but they are honoured servants 26 they do not try to speak ahead of Him, and they act at His command. 27 He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede without His permission. Indeed they themselves stand in 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