How many communities of evil-doers We have destroyed, raising up other people after them. 11 And, when they felt Our might, behold them fleeing from it! 12 'Do not run away. Return to your luxury that you rejoiced in, and your homes in order that you be questioned' 13 They said: woe unto us! verily we have been wrong-doers. 14 And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field that is mown, as ashes silent and quenched. 15 We have not created the heavens and the earth, and all that lies between them, out of fun. 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 Nay, but [by the very act of creation] We hurl the truth against falsehood, and it crushes the latter: and lo! it withers away. But woe unto you for all your [attempts at] defining [God] 18 To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and on earth. And those who are near Him (i.e. the angels) are not too proud to worship Him, nor are they weary (of His worship). 19 They exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken. 20 Have they taken gods from the earth who raise the deed? 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 None shall question Him about His works, but they shall be questioned. 23 Or, have they taken gods besides Him? Say: Bring your proof; this is the reminder of those with me and the reminder of those before me. Nay! most of them do not know the truth, so they turn aside. 24 We never sent a Messenger before you except that We revealed to him saying: 'There is no god except Me, therefore, worship Me' 25 And they say: "The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or children)." Glory to Him! They [those whom they call children of Allah i.e. the angels, 'Iesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), 'Uzair (Ezra), etc.], are but honoured slaves. 26 They do not precede Him in speech and (only) according to His commandment do they act. 27 He knows what was there before them and what came after them; and they did not intercede for any one but whom He willed, and they were filled with awe of Him. 28 ۞ The recompense of those of them who say that they are the Lord instead of God will be hell; thus, do We recompense the unjust ones. 29