How many were the populations We utterly destroyed because of their iniquities, setting up in their places other peoples? 11 And [every time,] as soon as they began to feel Our punishing might, lo! they tried to flee from it 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 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 have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, unnecessarily. 16 If We had wished to find a pastime, We could have found it in Our presence - if We ever did. 17 Nay, but We hurl the truth against falsehood and it prevails over it, and behold, falsehood vanishes away. Then woe to you for that you describe! 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; they flag not. 20 Or have they chosen gods from the earth who raise the dead? 21 If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been confusion in both! but glory to Allah, the Lord of the Throne: (High is He) above what they attribute to Him! 22 He cannot be questioned concerning what He does and 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 not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship 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 They do not outstrip Him in speech and only act 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 ۞ The recompense of those of them who say that they are the Lord instead of God will be hell; thus, do We recompense the unjust ones. 29