How many communities of evil-doers We have destroyed, raising up other people after them. 11 And [every time,] as soon as they began to feel Our punishing might, lo! they tried to flee 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 And they could only cry: "Oh, woe unto us! Verily, we were wrongdoers!" 14 And this ceased not to be their cry till We made them cut off, extinct. 15 We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in play. 16 If it had been Our wish to take (just) a pastime, We should surely have taken it from the things nearest to Us, if We would do (such a thing)! 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 And whoever is in the heavens and the earth is His; and those who are with Him are not proud to serve Him, nor do they grow weary. 19 They say His Purity night and day, and do not slacken. 20 Have they taken gods from the earth who raise the deed? 21 Why, were there gods in earth and heaven other than God, they would surely go to ruin; so glory be to God, the Lord of the Throne, above that they describe! 22 He shall be questioned not as to that which He doth, while they shall be questioned. 23 Or have they taken for worship (other) gods besides him? Say, "Bring your convincing proof: this is the Message of those with me and the Message of those before me." But most of them know not the Truth, and so turn away. 24 And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me." 25 They say, "The All Merciful has taken a son!" Glory be to Him! They are only His honoured servants: 26 They do not speak before He has, and they act only at His command. 27 He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, from fear of Him, are apprehensive. 28 ۞ And whoever of them should say, "Indeed, I am a god besides Him"- that one We would recompense with Hell. Thus do We recompense the wrongdoers. 29