Or chooseth He daughters of all that He hath created, and honoureth He you with sons? 16 And when one of them is given news of that of which he sets up as a likeness for the Beneficent Allah, his face becomes black and he is full of rage. 17 (As such they attribute to Allah) who is brought up among ornaments but when disputes arise are powerless. 18 They claim that the angels, who are themselves the worshipers of the Merciful, are females. Did they witness their creation! Their witness shall be written down and they shall be questioned. 19 They say, 'Had the All-merciful so willed, we would not have served them.' They have no knowledge of that; they are only conjecturing. 20 Or have We given them some Book before this, to which they hold fast? 21 Rather they said, “We found our forefathers upon a religion, and we are following their footsteps.” 22 In the same way, whenever We had sent a Messenger before you to warn a town, the rich ones therein said, "We found our fathers following a certain belief and we follow in their footsteps. 23 ۞ [Each warner] said, "Even if I brought you better guidance than that [religion] upon which you found your fathers?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers." 24 Then We exacted retribution from them. So do consider the end of those who gave the lie (to the Prophets). 25