And who is more wicked than he who invents lies about God or denies His revelations? Surely the wicked will not succeed. 21 On the Day of Judgment when We will gather all people together, We will ask the pagans, "Where are those whom you believed to be your gods?" 22 There will then be (left) no subterfuge for them but to say: "By Allah our Lord, we were not those who joined gods with Allah." 23 Look how they lie against themselves, and how that which they were forging has gone astray from them! 24 Some of them listen to you, but We have veiled their hearts so that they cannot understand and made them deaf. They disbelieve all the evidence (of Our existence) that they may have seen. They only come to you for the sake of argument and the disbelievers say that (whatever Muhammad says) is no more than ancient legends. 25 Others they keep away from it, and themselves they keep away; but they only destroy their own souls, and they perceive it not. 26 If you should see them when they are stood before the Fire, they will say: "Ah would that we were sent back (to the world)! We shall not deny the signs of our Lord, and be among those who believe." 27 No! They will say this merely because the Truth which they had concealed will become obvious to them; or else if they were sent back, they would still revert to what was forbidden to them. (So this plea of theirs would be a lie too) for they are just liars. 28 And they say: There is nothing but our life of this world, and we shall not be raised. 29 If you could see them when they are made to stand before their Lord! He will say: 'Is this not the truth' 'Yes, by our Lord' they will reply, and He will say: 'Taste then the punishment, for that which you disbelieved' 30