For, how many a community that persisted in evildoing have We dashed into fragments, and raised another people in its stead! 11 And [every time,] as soon as they began to feel Our punishing might, lo! they tried to flee from it 12 We told them, "Do not run away. Come back to your luxuries and your houses so that you can be questioned". 13 They said, "Woe to us! We were indeed wrongdoers," 14 They did not cease to cry this until We reduced them to stubble, still and silent. 15 And We did not create the heaven and earth and that between them in play. 16 Had We wished to find a pastime, We would surely have found it in that which is with Us, if such had been Our will. 17 Nay, but We hurl the true against the false, and it doth break its head and lo! it vanisheth. And yours will be woe for that which ye ascribe (unto Him). 18 Whosoever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him; and those who are near Him do not disdain to worship Him or weary (of His service), 19 And they hallow Him night and day, and they flag not. 20 Have they chosen deities from earth? Can such deities give life to anyone? 21 Had there been gods apart from God, both (the heavens and the earth) would have been despoiled. Much too glorious is God, the Lord of the mighty throne, for things they assert! 22 He will not be questioned as to that which He doeth, but they will 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 And We sent not before thee an apostle but We revealed unto him that there is no god but I, so worship Me. 25 And they say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten offspring." Glory to Him! they are (but) servants raised to honour. 26 They did not precede Him in their speech, and acted on His command. 27 He knows what was there before them and what came after them; and they did not intercede for any one but whom He willed, and they were filled with 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