Or, has He taken daughters from those He has created for Himself and favored sons for you? 16 And when there is announced unto any of them the birth of that which he likeneth unto the Compassionate, his countenance remaineth darkened the whole day and he is wroth inwardly. 17 What, one who is reared amid ornaments and, when the time of altercation comes, is not to be seen? 18 And they make the angels who are the bondmen of the Compassionate females. Have they witnessed their creation? Their testimony will be written down, and they will be questioned. 19 And they said: "If it had been the Will of the Most Beneficent (Allah), we should not have worshipped them (false deities)." They have no knowledge whatsoever of that. They do nothing but lie! 20 Have We given them a Book before this, to which they are holding fast? 21 No indeed! They say, "We have found our fathers following a certain course, and we are guided by their footsteps." 22 And similarly, We did not send before you any warner into a city except that its affluent said, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are, in their footsteps, following." 23 ۞ He said: "What! Even if I brought you better guidance than that which ye found your fathers following?" They said: "For us, we deny that ye (prophets) are sent (on a mission at all)." 24 So We took vengeance upon them; and behold how was the end of them that cried lies. 25