How many a city that was evildoing We have shattered, and set up after it another people! 11 Whensoever they sensed Our punishment they fled from them. 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 And they could only cry: "Oh, woe unto us! Verily, we were wrongdoers!" 14 And that cry of theirs did not cease until We caused them to become [like] a field mown down, still and silent as ashes. 15 We did not create the heavens and the earth just for fun. 16 Had We intended that We should choose a sport, surely We would choose it from before Us - if We were ever going to do that. 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 whosoever is in the heavens and on the earth and those that are with Him are never too proud to worship Him, nor do they grow weary; 19 glorifying Him by night and in the daytime and never failing. 20 Or have they taken (for worship) aliha (gods) from the earth who raise the dead? 21 Why, were there gods in earth and heaven other than God, they would surely go to ruin; so glory be to God, the Lord of the Throne, above that they describe! 22 None shall question Him about His works, but they shall 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 not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me." 25 And yet they say: "Ar-Rahman has begotten a son." Too exalted is He! In fact, those (they call His sons) were His honoured votaries. 26 These servants do not speak before He speaks. They simply act according to His orders. 27 He knows what is before them and behind them, and they intercede not save for him with whom He is well-pleased, and they tremble in awe of Him. 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