How many a town (community), that were wrong-doers, have We destroyed, and raised up after them another people! 11 And [every time,] as soon as they began to feel Our punishing might, lo! they tried to flee from it 12 Flee not, but return to that wherein you lived a luxurious life, and to your homes, in order that you may be questioned. 13 They said: "Ah! woe to us! We were indeed wrong-doers!" 14 And this they did not stop crying out until We made them stubble, silent, and still. 15 We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play. 16 had We desired to take to Us a diversion We would have taken it to Us from Ourselves, had We done aught. 17 No, We hurl truth at falsehood, and it shall conquer it, and see, falsehood vanishes. Woe to you for all you have described. 18 To Him belong all (creatures) in the heavens and on earth: Even those who are in His (very) Presence are not too proud to serve Him, nor are they (ever) weary (of His service): 19 glorifying Him by night and in the daytime and never failing. 20 Have they taken earthly gods who are such that they raise up the dead to life? 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 None shall question Him about His works, but they shall be questioned. 23 Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say, [O Muhammad], "Produce your proof. This [Qur'an] is the message for those with me and the message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they are turning away. 24 and [this despite the fact that even] before thy time We never sent any apostle without having revealed to him that there is no deity save Me, - [and that,] therefore, you shall worship Me [alone]! 25 And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken a son." Exalted is He! Rather, they are [but] honored servants. 26 They do not outstrip Him in speech and only act as He commands. 27 He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him whom He accepteth, and they quake for awe of Him. 28 ۞ If any of them says, 'I am a god apart from Him', such a one We recompense with Gehenna; even so We recompense the evildoers. 29