How many communities of evil-doers We have destroyed, raising up other people after them. 11 Yet, when they felt Our Punishment (coming), behold, they (tried 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: 'Alas for us we were harmdoers' 14 And this they did not stop crying out until We made them stubble, silent, and still. 15 We created not the heaven and the earth, and whatsoever between them is, as playing; 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! We cast the truth against the falsehood, so that it breaks its head, and lo! it vanishes; and woe to you for what you describe; 18 To Him belongs all those who are in the heavens and the earth. Those who are closer to Him are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they get tired of worshipping. 19 They say His Purity night and day, and do not slacken. 20 Or have they taken (for worship) gods from the earth who can raise (the dead)? 21 If there were therein gods beside Allah, then verily both (the heavens and the earth) had been disordered. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, from all that they ascribe (unto Him). 22 He cannot be questioned concerning what He does and they shall be questioned. 23 and yet, they choose to worship [imaginary] deities instead of Him! Say [O Prophet]: "Produce an evidence for what you are claiming: this is a reminder [unceasingly voiced] by those who are with me, just as it was a reminder [voiced] by those who came before me." But nay, most of them do not know the truth, and so they stubbornly turn away [from it] 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 They say, "The All Merciful has taken a son!" Glory be to Him! They are only His honoured servants: 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 if any of them were to say: "Behold, I am deity beside Him" - that one We should requite with hell: thus do We requite all [such] evildoers. 29