And many a township did We destroy, for they were unjust, and We created other nations after them. 11 And when they tasted Our punishment, they immediately started fleeing from it. 12 "Do not flee; go back to your halls of pleasure and your habitations, so that you may be interrogated." 13 They cried, “Woe to us, we were indeed unjust!” 14 And this ceased not to be their cry until We made them a harvest reaped, extinguished. 15 We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in play. 16 If it had been Our wish to take (just) a pastime, We should surely have taken it from the things nearest to Us, if We would do (such a thing)! 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 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 say His Purity night and day, and do not slacken. 20 Or have they taken gods out of the earth who raise the dead? 21 If other than Allah, there were gods* in the heavens and the earth, they would be destroyed; therefore Purity is to Allah, Owner of the Throne, from the matters that they fabricate. (* Which is not possible.) 22 He cannot be called to account for whatever He does, whereas they will be called to account: 23 Or have they taken gods apart from Him? Say: 'Bring your proof! This is the Remembrance of him who is with me, and the Remembrance of those before me. Nay, but the most part of them know not the truth, so therefore they are turning away. 24 To all the Messengers that were sent before you We revealed that I am the only God to be worshipped. 25 They say 'The Merciful has taken a son' Exaltations to Him! No, they are only His honored worshipers, 26 They did not precede Him in their speech, and acted on His command. 27 He knows all that lies open before them and all that is hidden from them: hence, they cannot intercede for any but those whom He has [already] graced with His goodly acceptance, since they themselves stand in reverent awe of Him. 28 ۞ If any of them says, 'I am a god apart from Him', such a one We recompense with Gehenna; even so We recompense the evildoers. 29