What! has He taken daughters out of what He himself creates, and granted to you sons for choice? 16 And when one of them is given news of that of which he sets up as a likeness for the Beneficent Allah, his face becomes black and he is full of rage. 17 (As such they attribute to Allah) who is brought up among ornaments but when disputes arise are powerless. 18 Do they say that the angels, who are the servants of the Beneficent God, are females? Have they witnessed their creation? Their words as such will be recorded and they will be questioned for it. 19 And they say: If the Beneficent One had (so) willed, we should not have worshipped them. They have no knowledge whatsoever of that. They do but guess. 20 Or have We given them a book before it so that they hold fast to it? 21 Nay, for they say only: Lo! we found our fathers following a religion, and we are guided by their footprints. 22 In the same way, whenever We had sent a Messenger before you to warn a town, the rich ones therein said, "We found our fathers following a certain belief and we follow in their footsteps. 23 ۞ (The warner) said: What! even if I bring to you a better guide than that on which you found your fathers? They said: Surely we are unbelievers in that with which you are sent. 24 Then We exacted retribution from them. So do consider the end of those who gave the lie (to the Prophets). 25