What! has He taken daughters to Himself of what He Himself creates and chosen you to have sons? 16 And if one of them is given the glad tidings of what he professes regarding the Most Gracious, his face blackens and he is mournful! 17 Can one who has been raised on ornaments and cannot present her case coolly in a dispute (be associated with God?) 18 They claim that the angels, who are themselves the worshipers of the Merciful, are females. Did they witness their creation! Their witness shall be written down and they shall be questioned. 19 Yet they say: "If Ar-Rahman had so pleased we would not have worshipped them." They have no knowledge of it in the least. They only make up lies. 20 Had We, before sending the Quran, given them a book to which they now refer as an authority? 21 No, but they say: 'We found our fathers following a creed, and by following in their footsteps we are guided. 22 And even so We sent not a warner before thee (Muhammad) into any township but its luxurious ones said: Lo! we found our fathers following a religion, and we are following their footprints. 23 ۞ [Whereupon each prophet] would say: "Why, even though I bring you guidance better than that which you found your forefathers believing in?" - [to which] the others would reply, "Behold, we deny that there is any truth in [what you claim to be] your messages!" 24 So We wreaked Our vengeance on them: now see what was the end of those who rejected [the Truth]! 25