And how many a city have We overthrown which were doing wrong, and We caused to grow up thereafter another nation! 11 And when its inhabitants perceived Our punishment, at once they fled from it. 12 The angels said to them, “Do not flee and return to the comforts that were given to you and to your homes, perhaps you will be questioned.” 13 They said: woe unto us! verily we have been wrong-doers. 14 And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field that is mown, as ashes silent and quenched. 15 We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play. 16 Had We wished to find a pastime, We would surely have found it in that which is with Us, if such had been Our will. 17 Nay, We hurl the Truth at falsehood so that the Truth crushes falsehood, and lo! it vanishes. Woe to you for what you utter! 18 Whosoever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him; and those who are near Him do not disdain to worship Him or weary (of His service), 19 they glorify Him night and day without tiring. 20 Or have they taken gods from the earth who can raise the dead? 21 had there been in heaven or on earth any deities other than God, both [those realms would surely have fallen into ruin! But limitless in His glory is God, enthroned in His awesome almightiness far] above anything that men may devise by way of definition! 22 He cannot be questioned concerning what He does and they shall be questioned. 23 Or, have they taken gods besides Him? Say: Bring your proof; this is the reminder of those with me and the reminder of those before me. Nay! most of them do not know the truth, so they turn aside. 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 They say 'The Merciful has taken a son' Exaltations to Him! No, they are only His honored worshipers, 26 who do not surpass Him in speech, and do as He commands. 27 He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede without His permission. Indeed they themselves stand in awe of Him. 28 ۞ And if any of them were to say: "Behold, I am deity beside Him" - that one We should requite with hell: thus do We requite all [such] evildoers. 29