۞ There may be countless angels in heaven, but their intercession will be of no avail until God has given permission to those whom he chooses and accepts. 26 Only those who do not believe in the life hereafter call the angels, females. They have no knowledge about it. 27 They have no knowledge to base this on. They merely indulge in guess-work which can never replace the truth. 28 (Muhammad), stay away from those who turn away from Our guidance and who do not desire anything except the worldly life. 29 This is the farthest limit of their knowledge. Surely your Lord alone knows best who has strayed away from the path and who has come to guidance. 30 And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, that He may requite those who do evil with that which they have done (i.e. punish them in Hell), and reward those who do good, with what is best (i.e. Paradise). 31 As for those who avoid the [truly] grave sins and shameful deeds - even though they may sometimes stumble behold, thy Sustainer is abounding in forgiveness. He is fully aware of you when He brings you into being out of dust, and when you are still hidden in your mothers' wombs: do not, then, consider yourselves pure - [for] He knows best as to who is conscious of Him. 32