And who could be more wicked than he who attributes his own lying inventions to God or gives the lie to His messages? Verily, such evildoers will never attain to a happy state: 21 And let them beware the Day whereon We shall gather them all together; then We shall say unto those who associated: where are your associate-gods whom ye have been asserting? 22 Then they had no fabrication except that they said, “By Allah, our Lord, we were never polytheists!” 23 Consider, how they have lied against their own souls and have lost their gods. 24 And there are among them such as [seem to] listen to thee [O Prophet]: but over their hearts We have laid veils which prevent them from grasping the truth, and into their ears, deafness. And were they to see every sign [of the truth,] they would still not believe in it - so much so that when they come unto thee to contend with thee, those who are bent on denying the truth say: "This is nothing but fables of ancient times!" 25 And they prevent [others] from him and are [themselves] remote from him. And they do not destroy except themselves, but they perceive [it] not. 26 And if you see them when they will be placed above hell, they will say, “Alas, if only we might be sent back and not deny the signs of our Lord, and become Muslims!” 27 But no. What they were hiding has now become clear to them. If they were sent back they would surely return to what had been forbidden them, for surely they are liars. 28 And they said: "There is no (other life) but our (present) life of this world, and never shall we be resurrected (on the Day of Resurrection)." 29 If you see them when they are put before their Lord, He will say to them: "Is not this the truth?" They will answer: "Indeed, by our Lord." He will say: "Then taste the agony of punishment for what you had denied." 30