What! has He taken daughters to Himself of what He Himself creates and chosen you to have sons? 16 And if one of them hath tidings of that which he likeneth to the Beneficent One, his countenance becometh black and he is full of inward rage. 17 What! that which is made in ornaments and which in contention is unable to make plain speech! 18 And they make the angels who themselves are slaves to the Most Beneficent (Allah) females. Did they witness their creation? Their evidence will be recorded, and they will be questioned! 19 And they said, "If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshipped them." They have of that no knowledge. They are not but falsifying. 20 Had We, before sending the Quran, given them a book to which they now refer as an authority? 21 Nay! they say: verily we have found our fathers on a certain way, and verily by their footsteps we are guided. 22 And similarly, whenever We sent a Herald of Warning before you (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) into any town, its wealthy people said, “We found our forefathers upon a religion, and we are behind their footsteps.” 23 ۞ (And the warner) said: What! Even though I bring you better guidance than that ye found your fathers following? They answered: Lo! in what ye bring we are disbelievers. 24 So We took revenge from them – therefore see what sort of fate befell those who denied! 25