Or has He taken from those He has created daughters for Himself, and assigned sons to you? 16 When one of them is given the glad news of the birth of a daughter, which they believe to be the only kind of child that the Beneficent God can have, his face blackens with anger. 17 (As such they attribute to Allah) who is brought up among ornaments but when disputes arise are powerless. 18 And [yet] they claim that the angels - who in themselves are but beings created by the Most Gracious - are females: [but] did they witness their creation? This false claim of theirs will be recorded, and they will be called to account [for it on Judgment Day]! 19 The pagans say, "Had the Beneficent God wanted, we would not have worshipped them (idols)." Whatever they say is not based on knowledge. It is only a false conjecture. 20 Or have We given them any scripture before (this Qur'an) so that they are holding fast thereto? 21 Nay! they say: We found our fathers on a course, and surely we are guided by their footsteps. 22 And thus it is: whenever We sent any warner to a city its affluent ones said: “We found our forefathers on a way and we continue to follow in their footsteps.” 23 ۞ (The warner) said: "Even if I bring you better guidance than that which you found your fathers following?" They said: "Verily, We disbelieve in that with which you have been sent." 24 So We inflicted retribution on them, then see how was the end of the rejecters. 25