How many habitations that were sinful have We demolished utterly, and raised other people after them. 11 And when they tasted Our punishment, they immediately started fleeing from it. 12 We told them, "Do not run away. Come back to your luxuries and your houses so that you can be questioned". 13 And they could only cry: "Oh, woe unto us! Verily, we were wrongdoers!" 14 And this ceased not to be their cry until We made them a harvest reaped, extinguished. 15 We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play. 16 Had We intended that We should choose a sport, surely We would choose it from before Us - if We were ever going to do that. 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 They say His Purity night and day, and do not slacken. 20 Or have men taken for themselves gods from the earth who resurrect [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 will not be questioned about anything He does, but all people will be questioned about their deeds. 23 Have they taken gods beside Him? Say thou: forth with your proof This is an admonition unto those with me and an admonition unto those before me. But most of them knew not the truth, and so they are averters. 24 Not a messenger did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve 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 They speak not before He speaks, and they act (in all things) by His Command. 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 says, 'I am a god apart from Him', such a one We recompense with Gehenna; even so We recompense the evildoers. 29