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 "Do not flee; go back to your halls of pleasure and your habitations, so that you may be interrogated." 13 And they could only cry: "Oh, woe unto us! Verily, we were wrongdoers!" 14 Such was what they continued to say until We mowed them down and made them completely extinct. 15 And We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, unnecessarily. 16 If We had pleased to make a plaything We could have made it Ourself, if We had cared to do so. 17 Nay, but We hurl the truth against falsehood and it prevails over it, and behold, falsehood vanishes away. Then woe to you for that you describe! 18 And to Him only belong all those who are in the heavens and in the earth; and those with Him are not conceited towards worshipping Him, nor do they tire. 19 Nor cease to endeavour praising Him night and day. 20 Or have they taken (for worship) gods from the earth who can raise (the dead)? 21 Had there been therein (in the heavens and the earth) gods besides Allah, then verily both would have been ruined. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, (High is He) above what they attribute to Him! 22 He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned. 23 Or have they taken gods apart from Him? Say: 'Bring your proof! This is the Remembrance of him who is with me, and the Remembrance of those before me. Nay, but the most part of them know not the truth, so therefore they are turning away. 24 And We sent never a Messenger before thee except that We revealed to him, saying, 'There is no god but I; so serve Me.' 25 And they say: The Beneficent hath taken unto Himself a son. Be He Glorified! Nay, but (those whom they call sons) are honoured slaves; 26 They speak not until He hath spoken, and they act by His command. 27 He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede except for him whom He approves and for fear of Him they tremble. 28 ۞ And whoever of them should say, "Indeed, I am a god besides Him"- that one We would recompense with Hell. Thus do We recompense the wrongdoers. 29