Who is more wicked than he who invents a lie about Allah or belies His verses? The harmdoers shall never prosper. 21 And [mention, O Muhammad], the Day We will gather them all together; then We will say to those who associated others with Allah, "Where are your 'partners' that you used to claim [with Him]?" 22 Then their excuse will be but to say: "By God our Lord, we were not idolaters." 23 Behold how they lie against themselves, and how that which they were forging has gone astray from them! 24 And among them are those who listen to you, but We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. Even when they come to you arguing with you, those who disbelieve say, "This is not but legends of the former peoples." 25 And they bar others therefrom and go far away from it: but they destroy none but themselves, and perceive it not. 26 If thou couldst but see [them] when they will be made to stand before the fire and will say: "Oh, would that we were brought back [to life]: then we would not give the lie to our Sustainer's messages, but would be among the believers!" 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 They say now: 'There is nothing but the life of this world, and we shall not be raised from the dead.' 29 And if you see when they are placed before their Lord, He will say, “Is this not real (the truth)? They will say, “Yes – why not, by our Lord!” He will say, “So now taste the punishment – the recompense of your disbelief.” 30