Has He chosen daughters for Himself from His creation, and selected only sons for you? 16 And if one of them is informed of the news of (the birth of) that which he set forth as a parable to the Most Beneficent (Allah) (i.e. of a girl), his face becomes dark, gloomy, and he is filled with grief! 17 What! that which is made in ornaments and which in contention is unable to make plain speech! 18 They consider the angels, God's servants, to be female. Did they witness their creation? Their claim will be put on record and they will be questioned about it. 19 And they say: If the Beneficent Allah had pleased, we should never have worshipped them. They have no knowledge of this; they only lie. 20 Had We, before sending the Quran, given them a book to which they now refer as an authority? 21 Rather they said, “We found our forefathers upon a religion, and we are following their footsteps.” 22 And in this wise We sent not before thee into any city a warner but the affluent thereof said: verily we! we found our fathers on a certain way and verily their footsteps we are following. 23 ۞ "Even if I bring you a better guidance," he rejoined, "than the one you found your fathers on?" Still they said: "We do not believe in what you have brought." 24 So We exacted retribution from them: now see what was the end of those who rejected (Truth)! 25