How many a wrong-doing town did We shatter and then raise up another people. 11 When they felt Our punishment coming upon them, they began to flee from it. 12 "Do not flee; go back to your halls of pleasure and your habitations, so that you may be interrogated." 13 "Woe, alas," they said, "we were really sinful." 14 And this they did not stop crying out until We made them stubble, silent, and still. 15 We have not created the heavens and the earth, and all that lies between them, out of fun. 16 Had We intended to take a diversion, We could have taken it from [what is] with Us - if [indeed] We were to do 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 To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those near Him are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, nor do they tire. 19 They exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken. 20 Have they taken gods from the earth who raise the deed? 21 If there had been in the heavens and on the earth, other deities besides God, both the heavens and earth would be ruined. God, Lord of the throne, is far above that which they ascribe to Him. 22 He cannot be questioned for His acts, but they will be questioned (for theirs). 23 Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say, [O Muhammad], "Produce your proof. This [Qur'an] is the message for those with me and the message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they are turning away. 24 And We did not send before you any apostle but We revealed to him that there is no god but Me, therefore serve 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 what is behind them, and they cannot intercede without His permission. Indeed they themselves stand in awe of Him. 28 ۞ And one of them who should say: Lo! I am a god beside Him, that one We should repay with hell. Thus We Repay wrong-doers. 29