How many were the populations We utterly destroyed because of their iniquities, setting up in their places other peoples? 11 And when its inhabitants perceived Our punishment, at once they fled from it. 12 "Do not flee; go back to your halls of pleasure and your habitations, so that you may be interrogated." 13 They said, 'Alas for us! We have been evildoers.' 14 And that cry of theirs did not cease until We caused them to become [like] a field mown down, still and silent as ashes. 15 And We did not create the heaven and earth and that between them in play. 16 Had We wanted to play games, We could have certainly done so with things at hand. 17 But in fact We hurl the truth upon falsehood, so it scatters its brains – thereupon it vanishes; and for you is the ruin due to the matters you fabricate. 18 To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and on earth. And those who are near Him (i.e. the angels) are not too proud to worship Him, nor are they weary (of His worship). 19 They glorify (Him) night and day; they flag not. 20 Or have they chosen gods from the earth who raise the dead? 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 shall not be questioned as to what He does, but they shall he questioned. 23 Have they taken gods beside Him? Say thou: forth with your proof This is an admonition unto those with me and an admonition unto those before me. But most of them knew not the truth, and so they are averters. 24 And We sent never a Messenger before thee except that We revealed to him, saying, 'There is no god but I; so serve Me.' 25 They say, "The All Merciful has taken a son!" Glory be to Him! They are only His honoured servants: 26 They do not outstrip Him in speech and only act as He commands. 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 one of them said: "I am God besides Him," We should award him Hell; for this is how We requite the evil-doers. 29