Or has He taken daughters out of what He has created, and He has selected for you sons? 16 When one of them is given the glad news of the birth of a daughter, which they believe to be the only kind of child that the Beneficent God can have, his face blackens with anger. 17 Can one who has been raised on ornaments and cannot present her case coolly in a dispute (be associated with God?) 18 And they have made the angels, who are themselves servants of the All-merciful, females. What, did they witness their creation? Their witness shall be written down, and they shall be questioned. 19 The pagans say, "Had the Beneficent God wanted, we would not have worshipped them (idols)." Whatever they say is not based on knowledge. It is only a false conjecture. 20 What! have We given them a Book before this, to which they are holding fast? 21 In fact they say: "We found our fathers following a certain way, and are guided by their footprints." 22 Whenever We sent a messenger before you to warn a township, the affluent among them said, in the same way, "We saw our fathers following this tradition; we are only following in their footsteps." 23 ۞ Say: 'What, though I should bring you a better guidance than you found your fathers upon?' They say, 'We disbelieve in that you were sent with.' 24 Wherefore We took revenge on them. Behold, then how hath been the end of the beliers? 25