And how many a town which was iniquitous did We demolish, and We raised up after it another people! 11 And when its inhabitants perceived Our punishment, at once they fled from it. 12 'Run not! Return you unto the luxury that you exulted in, and your dwelling-places; haply you shall be questioned.' 13 They said: "Ah! woe to us! We were indeed wrong-doers!" 14 So they ceased not to cry, until We made them stubble, silent and still. 15 And We created not the heaven and the earth and that which is in between in play. 16 Had We wished to make a diversion, We would have made it from before Ourselves: by no means would We do (it). 17 We will hurl the truth at falsehood, the falsehood shall be crushed and will disappear. Woe to you for what you utter. 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 extol His limitless glory by night and by day, never flagging [therein]. 20 Or have they taken (for worship) gods from the earth who can raise (the dead)? 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 Have they taken gods, other than Him? Say: 'Bring us your proof! Here is the Remembrance of he who is with me and the Remembrance of those before me' But no, most of them do not know the truth, therefore they turn away. 24 We have not sent an apostle before you without instructing him that there is no god but I, so worship Me. 25 They say 'The Merciful has taken a son' Exaltations to Him! No, they are only His honored worshipers, 26 They do not speak before He has, and they act only at His command. 27 He knows all that lies open before them and all that is hidden from them: hence, they cannot intercede for any but those whom He has [already] graced with His goodly acceptance, since they themselves stand in reverent awe of Him. 28 ۞ And if any of them were to say: "Behold, I am deity beside Him" - that one We should requite with hell: thus do We requite all [such] evildoers. 29