For, how many a community that persisted in evildoing have We dashed into fragments, and raised another people in its stead! 11 When they found Our torment approaching them they started to run away from the town. 12 [and at the same time they seemed to hear a scornful voice]: "Do not try to flee, but return to all that [once] gave you pleasure and corrupted your whole being, and [return] to your homes, so that you might be called to account [for what you have done]!" 13 They said: "Woe to us; surely 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 heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play. 16 Had We wanted to play games, We could have certainly done so with things at hand. 17 No, We hurl truth at falsehood, and it shall conquer it, and see, falsehood vanishes. Woe to you for all you have described. 18 Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those who dwell in His presence are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they weary; 19 They (i.e. the angels) glorify His Praises night and day, (and) they never slacken (to do so). 20 Have they appointed from the earth, Gods that create something? 21 had there been in heaven or on earth any deities other than God, both [those realms would surely have fallen into ruin! But limitless in His glory is God, enthroned in His awesome almightiness far] above anything that men may devise by way of definition! 22 He cannot be called to account for whatever He does, whereas they will be called to account: 23 Have they taken gods beside Him? Say thou: forth with your proof This is an admonition unto those with me and an admonition unto those before me. But most of them knew not the truth, and so they are averters. 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 said, “The Most Gracious has chosen a son – Purity is to Him! In fact they are honourable bondmen.” 26 They do not precede Him in speech and (only) according to His commandment do they act. 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 ۞ And if any of them should say: "Verily, I am an ilah (a god) besides Him (Allah)," such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.). 29