Those who disbelieved said to their Messengers: 'Return to our faith or we will banish you from our land' But Allah revealed to them: 'We shall destroy the harmdoers 13 And establish you in their place. This is for him who fears My station, and dreads My commination." 14 But they sought victory and decision (there and then), and frustration was the lot of every powerful obstinate transgressor. 15 Behind him is Hell, and he shall be made to drink of fetid water. 16 gulping it [unceasingly,] little by little, and yet hardly able to swallow it. And death will beset him from every quarter - but he shall not die: for [yet more] severe suffering lies ahead of him. 17 [This, then, is] the parable of those who are bent on denying their Sustainer: all their works are as ashes which the wind blows about fiercely on a stormy day: [in the life to come,] they cannot achieve any benefit whatever from all [the good] that they may have wrought: for this [denial of God] is indeed the farthest one can go astray. 18 Hast thou not seen that Allah hath created the heavens and the earth with truth? If He will, He can remove you and bring (in) some new creation; 19 Nor is that for Allah any great matter. 20 And they all shall appear before Allah, then those who were counted weak shall say to those who were stiff-necked: verily we were unto you a following, are ye going to avail us at all against the torment of Allah? They will say: had Allah guided us, we would have guided you also; it is equal unto us whether we become impatient or bear patiently; for us there is no place of escape. 21