How many communities of evil-doers We have destroyed, raising up other people after them. 11 And when its inhabitants perceived Our punishment, at once they fled from it. 12 Flee not, but return to the good things of this life which were given you, and to your homes in order that ye may be called to account. 13 They cried: Alas for us! we were wrong-doers. 14 And this remained their lament till We mowed them down and made them extinct. 15 We have not created the heavens and the earth, and all that lies between them, out of fun. 16 If We willed to choose a pastime, We could have chosen it from Ourselves – if We wanted to. 17 Aye! We hurl truth against falsehood, so that it braineth it, and lo! it vanisheth; and to you be the woe for that which ye utter! 18 To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and on earth. And those who are near Him (i.e. the angels) are not too proud to worship Him, nor are they weary (of His worship). 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 gods in heaven or earth, other than Allah, both would indeed have been ruined. Exalted be Allah, Lord of the Throne, above that they describe. 22 He is not to be questioned about what He does, but they shall be questioned. 23 Have they taken gods besides God? Say: "Then bring your proof. Here is the Book of those who are with me, and the Book of those who have gone before me." But most men do not know the truth and turn away. 24 And We did not send before you any apostle but We revealed to him that there is no god but Me, therefore serve Me. 25 And yet they say: "Ar-Rahman has begotten a son." Too exalted is He! In fact, those (they call His sons) were His honoured votaries. 26 They precede Him not in words, and by His command they work. 27 He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable, and they stand in awe and reverence of His (Glory). 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