How many a wrong-doing town did We shatter and then raise up another people. 11 Whensoever they sensed Our punishment they fled from them. 12 (They were told): "Flee not, but return to your comforts and to your dwellings. You are likely to be questioned." 13 They cried: Alas for us! we were wrong-doers. 14 So they kept saying this until We made them cut off, extinguished. 15 AND [know that] We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in mere idle play: 16 had We desired to take to Us a diversion We would have taken it to Us from Ourselves, had We done aught. 17 Aye! We hurl truth against falsehood, so that it braineth it, and lo! it vanisheth; and to you be the woe for that which ye utter! 18 To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and the earth; and those who are with Him wax not too proud to do Him service neither grow weary, 19 They glorify Him night and day, without flagging. 20 And yet some people choose to worship certain earthly things or beings as deities that [are supposed to] resurrect [the dead; and they fail to realize that,] 21 Had there been any gods in the heavens and the earth apart from Allah, the order of both the heavens and the earth would have gone to ruins. Glory be to Allah, the Lord of the Throne, Who is far above their false descriptions of Him. 22 He will not be questioned as to that which He doeth, but they will be questioned. 23 Have they taken other deities besides Him? Say to them, "Bring your proofs. This is the reminder of those who are with me and the reminder of those who were before me." But most of them do not know the truth, and so they turn away from it. 24 And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me." 25 And they say; the Compassionate hath taken a son. Hallowed be He! aye! they are bondmen honoured. 26 they speak not until He has spoken unto them, and [whenever they act,] they act at His behest. 27 He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable, and they stand in awe and reverence of His (Glory). 28 ۞ And the one among them who says, “I am a God beside Allah” – We shall reward him with hell; this is how We punish the unjust. 29