But they who denied the truth spoke [thus] unto their apostles: "We shall most certainly expel you from our land, unless you return forthwith to our ways. Whereupon their Sustainer revealed this to His apostles: "Most certainly shall We destroy these evildoers, 13 and We will surely make you to dwell in the land after them -- that, for him who fears My station and fears My threat.' 14 And they sought help (from their Lord) and every froward potentate was bought to naught; 15 Hell is before him, and he is made to drink a festering water, 16 the which he gulps, and can scarce swallow, and death comes upon him from every side, yet he cannot die; and still beyond him is a harsh chastisement. 17 Like ashes are the deeds of those who deny their Lord, which the wind blows away on a windy day. They shall have no power over what they earned. This is the farthest limit of going astray. 18 Do you not realize that God has created the heavens and the earth for a genuine purpose 19 that is no difficult thing for God. 20 And they all shall appear before Allah, then those who were counted weak shall say to those who were stiff-necked: verily we were unto you a following, are ye going to avail us at all against the torment of Allah? They will say: had Allah guided us, we would have guided you also; it is equal unto us whether we become impatient or bear patiently; for us there is no place of escape. 21