And how many a town which was iniquitous did We demolish, and We raised up after it another people! 11 Yet, when they felt Our Punishment (coming), behold, 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 "Woe, alas," they said, "we were really sinful." 14 Such was what they continued to say until We mowed them down and made them completely extinct. 15 We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play. 16 Had it been Our will to find a pastime, We would have found one near at hand; if at all We were inclined to do so. 17 Rather, We dash the truth upon falsehood, and it destroys it, and thereupon it departs. And for you is destruction from that which you describe. 18 To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those near Him are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, nor do they tire. 19 They glorify Him day and night without fail. 20 Have they taken earthly gods who are such that they raise up the dead to life? 21 If other than Allah, there were gods* in the heavens and the earth, they would be destroyed; therefore Purity is to Allah, Owner of the Throne, from the matters that they fabricate. (* Which is not possible.) 22 He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned. 23 and yet, they choose to worship [imaginary] deities instead of Him! Say [O Prophet]: "Produce an evidence for what you are claiming: this is a reminder [unceasingly voiced] by those who are with me, just as it was a reminder [voiced] by those who came before me." But nay, most of them do not know the truth, and so they stubbornly turn away [from it] 24 Never did We send any Messenger before you to whom We did not reveal: "There is no god but Me. So serve Me alone." 25 They say: "The Most Compassionate Lord has taken to Himself a son." Glory be to Him! Those whom they so designate are only His honoured servants. 26 They speak not before He speaks, and they act (in all things) by His Command. 27 He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, from fear of Him, are apprehensive. 28 ۞ The recompense of those of them who say that they are the Lord instead of God will be hell; thus, do We recompense the unjust ones. 29