How many harmdoing villages have We shattered and replaced them with another nation. 11 And when they tasted Our punishment, they immediately started fleeing from it. 12 (They were told): "Flee not, but return to your comforts and to your dwellings. You are likely to be questioned." 13 And they could only cry: "Oh, woe unto us! Verily, we were wrongdoers!" 14 and this they kept repeating until We caused them to become like a field mowed down, and reduced to ashes. 15 It was not in play that We created the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them. 16 If We had pleased to make a plaything We could have made it Ourself, if We had cared to do so. 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 And His is whosoever is in the heavens and the earth; and those nigh unto Him are not too stiff-necked for His worship nor are they weary. 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 Had there been therein (in the heavens and the earth) gods besides Allah, then verily both would have been ruined. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, (High is He) above what they attribute to Him! 22 He will not be questioned as to that which He doeth, but they will be questioned. 23 Have they taken gods, other than Him? Say: 'Bring us your proof! Here is the Remembrance of he who is with me and the Remembrance of those before me' But no, most of them do not know the truth, therefore they turn away. 24 And We did not send before you any apostle but We revealed to him that there is no god but Me, therefore serve Me. 25 And [yet,] some say: "The Most Gracious has taken unto Himself a son"! Limitless is He in His glory! Nay, [those whom they regard as God's "offspring" are but His] honoured servants: 26 they speak not until He has spoken unto them, and [whenever they act,] they act at His behest. 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 whosoever of them should say: verily I am a god beside Him, such a one We shall requite with Hell; thus We requite the wrong-doers. 29