How many communities of evil-doers We have destroyed, raising up other people after them. 11 When they found Our torment approaching them they started to run away from the town. 12 "Do not flee; go back to your halls of pleasure and your habitations, so that you may be interrogated." 13 They said, "Woe to us! We have been unjust". 14 And this they did not stop crying out until We made them stubble, silent, and still. 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 We bring forward the Truth to crush and destroy falsehood; it is doomed to be banished. Woe to you for your way of thinking about God! 18 for, unto Him belong all [beings] that are in the heavens and on earth; and those that are with Him are never too proud to worship Him and never grow weary [thereof]: 19 they extol His limitless glory by night and by day, never flagging [therein]. 20 Or have men taken for themselves gods from the earth who resurrect [the dead]? 21 Had there been gods apart from God, both (the heavens and the earth) would have been despoiled. Much too glorious is God, the Lord of the mighty throne, for things they assert! 22 He cannot be questioned for His acts, but they will be questioned (for theirs). 23 Have they taken gods beside Him? Say thou: forth with your proof This is an admonition unto those with me and an admonition unto those before me. But most of them knew not the truth, and so they are averters. 24 And We sent no messenger before thee but We inspired him, (saying): There is no Allah save Me (Allah), so worship Me. 25 And [yet,] some say: "The Most Gracious has taken unto Himself a son"! Limitless is He in His glory! Nay, [those whom they regard as God's "offspring" are but His] honoured servants: 26 who do not surpass Him in speech, and do as He commands. 27 He knows what is before them and what is behind them. They intercede for none except for him whom He is well pleased, and they tremble in awe of Him. 28 ۞ And if any of them should say: "Verily, I am an ilah (a god) besides Him (Allah)," such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.). 29