:11. How many were the populations We utterly destroyed because of their iniquities, setting up in their places other peoples?
:12. Yet, when they felt Our Punishment (coming), behold, they (tried to) flee from it.
:13. 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.
:14. They said: "Ah! woe to us! We were indeed wrong-doers!"
:15. And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field that is mown, as ashes silent and quenched.
:16. Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth and all that is between!
:17. 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)!
:18. Nay, We hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it knocks out its brain, and behold, falsehood doth perish! Ah! woe be to you for the (false) things ye ascribe (to Us).
:19. To Him belong all (creatures) in the heavens and on earth: Even those who are in His (very) Presence are not too proud to serve Him, nor are they (ever) weary (of His service):
:20. They celebrate His praises night and day, nor do they ever flag or intermit.
:21. Or have they taken (for worship) gods from the earth who can raise (the dead)?
:22. If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been confusion in both! but glory to Allah, the Lord of the Throne: (High is He) above what they attribute to Him!
:23. He cannot be questioned for His acts, but they will be questioned (for theirs).
:24. 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.
