Has He chosen daughters for Himself from His creation, and selected only sons for you? 16 And when there is announced unto any of them the birth of that which he likeneth unto the Compassionate, his countenance remaineth darkened the whole day and he is wroth inwardly. 17 Is then one brought up among trinkets, and unable to give a clear account in a dispute (to be associated with Allah)? 18 And they make the angels who are the bondmen of the Compassionate females. Have they witnessed their creation? Their testimony will be written down, and they will be questioned. 19 The pagans say, "Had the Beneficent God wanted, we would not have worshipped them (idols)." Whatever they say is not based on knowledge. It is only a false conjecture. 20 Had We, before sending the Quran, given them a book to which they now refer as an authority? 21 In fact they say: "We found our fathers following a certain way, and are guided by their footprints." 22 And thus, We did not send before you any warner in a town, but those who led easy lives in it said: Surely we found our fathers on a course, and surely we are followers of their footsteps. 23 ۞ [Each warner] said, "Even if I brought you better guidance than that [religion] upon which you found your fathers?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers." 24 So We inflicted retribution on them, then see how was the end of the rejecters. 25