How many a city that was evildoing We have shattered, and set up after it another people! 11 And [every time,] as soon as they began to feel Our punishing might, lo! 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, "Woe to us! We have been unjust". 14 and this they kept repeating until We caused them to become like a field mowed down, and reduced to ashes. 15 We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play. 16 If We had pleased to make a plaything We could have made it Ourself, if We had cared to do so. 17 Nay, but We hurl the true against the false, and it doth break its head and lo! it vanisheth. And yours will be woe for that which ye ascribe (unto Him). 18 Whosoever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him; and those who are near Him do not disdain to worship Him or weary (of His service), 19 Nor cease to endeavour praising Him night and day. 20 Or have they taken (for worship) aliha (gods) from the earth who raise the dead? 21 Had there been other deities in the heavens and the earth besides God, both the heavens and the earth would have been destroyed. God, the Lord of the Throne, is too Glorious to be as they think He is. 22 He cannot be questioned concerning what He does and they shall 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 We have not sent an apostle before you without instructing him that there is no god but I, so worship Me. 25 And they say; the Compassionate hath taken a son. Hallowed be He! aye! they are bondmen honoured. 26 They cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command. 27 He knows what is before them and behind them, and they intercede not save for him with whom He is well-pleased, and they tremble in awe of Him. 28 ۞ If any of them should say, "I am a god besides Him", such a one We should reward with Hell: thus do We reward those who do wrong. 29