And how many a town which was iniquitous did We demolish, and We raised up after it another people! 11 Then when they perceived Our violence, lo! they were from it fleeing. 12 Flee not, but return to that wherein you lived a luxurious life, and to your homes, in order that you may be questioned. 13 They cried, “Woe to us, we were indeed unjust!” 14 And this they did not stop crying out until We made them stubble, silent, and still. 15 And We created not the heaven and the earth and that which is in between in play. 16 Had We wished to take to Us an amusement We would have taken it to Us from Ours had We done so. 17 Nay, but [by the very act of creation] We hurl the truth against falsehood, and it crushes the latter: and lo! it withers away. But woe unto you for all your [attempts at] defining [God] 18 for, unto Him belong all [beings] that are in the heavens and on earth; and those that are with Him are never too proud to worship Him and never grow weary [thereof]: 19 And they hallow Him night and day, and they flag not. 20 Have they taken earthly gods who are such that they raise up the dead to life? 21 Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah, they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allah, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe. 22 He is not to be questioned about what He does, but they shall be questioned. 23 Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say, [O Muhammad], "Produce your proof. This [Qur'an] is the message for those with me and the message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they are turning 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 said, "The Beneficent God has given birth to a son. He is too Exalted to give birth to a son." (Those whom they think are God's sons) are only His honorable servants. 26 who do not surpass Him in speech, and do as He commands. 27 He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, from fear of Him, are apprehensive. 28 ۞ Whoever of them should say, "I am a deity besides Him," shall be requited with Hell. Thus do We reward the wrongdoers. 29