And how many a town which was iniquitous did We demolish, and We raised up after it another people! 11 When they felt Our punishment coming upon them, they began to flee 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: O woe to us! surely we were unjust. 14 and this they kept repeating until We caused them to become like a field mowed down, and reduced to ashes. 15 And We did not create the heaven and earth and that between them in play. 16 Had We wished to take to Us an amusement We would have taken it to Us from Ours had We done so. 17 Nay! We cast the truth against the falsehood, so that it breaks its head, and lo! it vanishes; and woe to you for what you describe; 18 Whosoever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him; and those who are near Him do not disdain to worship Him or weary (of His service), 19 They exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken. 20 Or have they chosen gods from the earth who raise the dead? 21 Had there been in between the twain gods except Allah surely the twain would have gone to ruin. Hallowed be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, from that which they utter! 22 He cannot be questioned concerning what He does and they shall be questioned. 23 Have they chosen other gods besides God? (Muhammad), ask them, "Show the proof (in support of such belief). This is (the Quran) which tells us about the (beliefs of the people) in my time and those who lived before me." Most of them do not know. Moreover, the truth is that they neglect (the question of belief altogether). 24 We have not sent an apostle before you without instructing him that there is no god but I, so worship Me. 25 And they say: "The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or children)." Glory to Him! They [those whom they call children of Allah i.e. the angels, 'Iesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), 'Uzair (Ezra), etc.], are but honoured slaves. 26 They cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command. 27 He knoweth whatsoever is before them and whatsoever is behind them; and they intercede not except for him whom He approveth, and in awe of Him they are fearful. 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