And many a township did We destroy, for they were unjust, and We created other nations after them. 11 Yet, when they felt Our Punishment (coming), behold, they (tried to) flee from it. 12 Flee not, but return to the good things of this life which were given you, and to your homes in order that ye may be called to account. 13 "Woe, alas," they said, "we were really sinful." 14 Such was what they continued to say until We mowed them down and made them completely extinct. 15 We have not created the heavens and the earth, and all that lies between them, out of fun. 16 If We had wished to find a pastime, We could have found it in Our presence - if We ever did. 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 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 without tiring. 20 And yet some people choose to worship certain earthly things or beings as deities that [are supposed to] resurrect [the dead; and they fail to realize that,] 21 Had there been in between the twain gods except Allah surely the twain would have gone to ruin. Hallowed be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, from that which they utter! 22 He shall not be questioned as to what He does, but they shall he questioned. 23 Or have they taken for worship (other) gods besides him? Say, "Bring your convincing proof: this is the Message of those with me and the Message of those before me." But most of them know not the Truth, and so turn away. 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 Merciful has taken a son' Exaltations to Him! No, they are only His honored worshipers, 26 They do not outstrip Him in speech and only act as He commands. 27 He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear 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