And how many a city have We overthrown which were doing wrong, and We caused to grow up thereafter another nation! 11 Then, when they perceived Our chastisement they took to their heels and fled. 12 They were told, "Do not try to flee, but return to the comfort and luxuries in which you exulted and to the places where you lived, so that you may be questioned." 13 They said: "Ah! woe to us! We were indeed wrong-doers!" 14 So they ceased not to cry, until We made them stubble, silent and still. 15 We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in play. 16 If We willed to choose a pastime, We could have chosen it from Ourselves – if We wanted to. 17 No, We hurl truth at falsehood, and it shall conquer it, and see, falsehood vanishes. Woe to you for all you have described. 18 Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those who dwell in His presence are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they weary; 19 they glorify Him night and day without tiring. 20 Or have they taken 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 will not be questioned as to that which He doeth, but they will be questioned. 23 and yet, they choose to worship [imaginary] deities instead of Him! Say [O Prophet]: "Produce an evidence for what you are claiming: this is a reminder [unceasingly voiced] by those who are with me, just as it was a reminder [voiced] by those who came before me." But nay, most of them do not know the truth, and so they stubbornly turn away [from it] 24 And We did not send any Noble Messenger before you, but We divinely revealed to him that, “There is no God except I (Allah), therefore worship Me alone.” 25 They say, "The All Merciful has taken a son!" Glory be to Him! They are only His honoured servants: 26 they do not try to speak ahead of Him, and they act at His command. 27 He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede without His permission. Indeed they themselves stand in awe of Him. 28 ۞ If any of them should say, "I am a god besides Him", such a one We should reward with Hell: thus do We reward those who do wrong. 29