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 might, behold, they ran headlong out of it. 12 [and at the same time they seemed to hear a scornful voice]: "Do not try to flee, but return to all that [once] gave you pleasure and corrupted your whole being, and [return] to your homes, so that you might be called to account [for what you have done]!" 13 And they could only cry: "Oh, woe unto us! Verily, we were wrongdoers!" 14 And that cry of theirs did not cease until We caused them to become [like] a field mown down, still and silent as ashes. 15 And We created not the heaven and the earth and that which is in between in play. 16 Had We wanted to play games, We could have certainly done so with things at hand. 17 Nay! We cast the truth against the falsehood, so that it breaks its head, and lo! it vanishes; and woe to you for what 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 taken (for worship) aliha (gods) from the earth who raise the dead? 21 Had there been other deities in the heavens and the earth besides God, both the heavens and the earth would have been destroyed. God, the Lord of the Throne, is too Glorious to be as they think He is. 22 He cannot be questioned for His acts, but they will be questioned (for theirs). 23 Have they taken gods other than Him? Say, (O Muhammad): "Bring forth your proof! Here is the Book with admonition for those of my time and there are also scriptures with admonition for people before me." But most people do not know the Truth, and have, therefore, turned away from it. 24 And We sent not before thee an apostle but We revealed unto him that there is no god but I, so worship Me. 25 And [yet,] some say: "The Most Gracious has taken unto Himself a son"! Limitless is He in His glory! Nay, [those whom they regard as God's "offspring" are but His] honoured servants: 26 These servants do not speak before He speaks. They simply act according to His orders. 27 He knows what is before them and behind them, and they intercede not save for him with whom He is well-pleased, and they tremble in awe of Him. 28 ۞ And the one among them who says, “I am a God beside Allah” – We shall reward him with hell; this is how We punish the unjust. 29