How many a wrong-doing town did We shatter and then raise up another people. 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 They cried, “Woe to us, we were indeed unjust!” 14 And this their crying ceased not till We made them as reaped corn, extinct. 15 AND [know that] We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in mere idle play: 16 If We had wished to find a pastime, We could have found it in Our presence - if We ever did. 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 To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those near Him are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, nor do they tire. 19 They never fail to exalt Him either at night or in the day. 20 Or have they taken (for worship) aliha (gods) from the earth who raise the dead? 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 will not be questioned as to that which He doeth, but they will be questioned. 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 We have not sent an apostle before you without instructing him that there is no god but I, so worship Me. 25 And yet they say: "Ar-Rahman has begotten a son." Too exalted is He! In fact, those (they call His sons) were His honoured votaries. 26 They do not outstrip Him in speech and only act as He commands. 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 if any of them should say: "Verily, I am an ilah (a god) besides Him (Allah)," such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.). 29