Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, and he tarried among them a thousand years, all but fifty; so the Flood seized them, while they were evildoers. 14 And We rescued him and those with him in the ship, and made of it a portent for the peoples. 15 And Abraham! (Remember) when he said unto his folk: Serve Allah, and keep your duty unto Him; that is better for you if ye did but know. 16 You worship only [lifeless] idols instead of God, and [thus] you give visible shape to a lie! Behold, those [things and beings] that you worship instead of God have it not in their power to provide sustenance for you: seek, then, all [your] sustenance from God, and worship Him [alone] and be grateful to Him: [for] unto Him you shall be brought back! 17 "And if you give [me] the lie - well, [other] communities have given the lie [to God's prophets] before your time: but no more is an apostle bound to do than clearly deliver the message [entrusted to him]." 18 Have they not considered how Allah begins creation and then repeats it? Indeed that, for Allah, is easy. 19 Say: Travel in the earth and see how He makes the first creation, then Allah creates the latter creation; surely Allah has power over all things. 20 "He punishes whom He pleases, and He grants Mercy to whom He pleases, and towards Him are ye turned. 21 You cannot defeat His purpose on earth or in heaven; nor have you any friend or helper besides God." 22