How many communities of evil-doers We have destroyed, raising up other people after them. 11 When they felt Our punishment coming upon them, they began to flee from it. 12 (They were told): "Flee not, but return to your comforts and to your dwellings. You are likely to be questioned." 13 They said: woe unto us! verily we have been wrong-doers. 14 And that declaration of theirs did not cease until We made them [as] a harvest [mowed down], extinguished [like a fire]. 15 And We created not the heaven and the earth and that which is in between in play. 16 If We willed to choose a pastime, We could have chosen it from Ourselves – if We wanted to. 17 Rather, We dash the truth upon falsehood, and it destroys it, and thereupon it departs. And for you is destruction from that which you describe. 18 To Him belongs whosoever dwells in the heavens and on earth. Those (angels) that are with Him neither disdain to serve Him out of pride, nor do they weary of it. 19 They glorify Him night and day, without flagging. 20 Have they taken earthly gods who are such that they raise up the dead to life? 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 cannot be questioned for His acts, but they will be questioned (for theirs). 23 Or have they set up other Gods besides Allah? Say, “Bring your proof; this is the remembrance of those with me and those before me”; but in fact most of them do not know the Truth, so they turn away. 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 cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command. 27 He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede except for him whom He likes, and they fear with awe of Him. (The Holy Prophets and virtuous people will be given the permission to intercede. Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him – will be the first to intercede.) 28 ۞ And whoever of them should say: Surely I am a god besides Him, such a one do We recompense with hell; thus do, We recompense the unjust. 29