What! has He taken daughters to Himself of what He Himself creates and chosen you to have sons? 16 Yet when news of (a daughter) they had reserved for Ar-Rahman comes to one of them, his face is blackened (with shame), and he grieves in silence inwardly. 17 Hath He taken to Himself that which is reared in ornaments, and is in contention not plain? 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 Or have We given them any scripture before (this Qur'an) so that they are holding fast thereto? 21 No indeed! They say, "We have found our fathers following a certain course, and we are guided by their footsteps." 22 And in this wise We sent not before thee into any city a warner but the affluent thereof said: verily we! we found our fathers on a certain way and verily their footsteps we are following. 23 ۞ (The warner) said: What! even if I bring to you a better guide than that on which you found your fathers? They said: Surely we are unbelievers in that with which you are sent. 24 So We inflicted retribution on them, then see how was the end of the rejecters. 25