وَكَم قَصَمنا مِن قَريَةٍ كانَت ظالِمَةً وَأَنشَأنا بَعدَها قَومًا آخَرينَ

And how many a city which was unjust have We shattered and produced after it another people.

فَلَمّا أَحَسّوا بَأسَنا إِذا هُم مِنها يَركُضونَ

And when its inhabitants perceived Our punishment, at once they fled from it.

لا تَركُضوا وَارجِعوا إِلىٰ ما أُترِفتُم فيهِ وَمَساكِنِكُم لَعَلَّكُم تُسأَلونَ

[Some angels said], "Do not flee but return to where you were given luxury and to your homes - perhaps you will be questioned."

قالوا يا وَيلَنا إِنّا كُنّا ظالِمينَ

They said, "O woe to us! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."

فَما زالَت تِلكَ دَعواهُم حَتّىٰ جَعَلناهُم حَصيدًا خامِدينَ

And that declaration of theirs did not cease until We made them [as] a harvest [mowed down], extinguished [like a fire].

لَو أَرَدنا أَن نَتَّخِذَ لَهوًا لَاتَّخَذناهُ مِن لَدُنّا إِن كُنّا فاعِلينَ

Had We intended to take a diversion, We could have taken it from [what is] with Us - if [indeed] We were to do so.

بَل نَقذِفُ بِالحَقِّ عَلَى الباطِلِ فَيَدمَغُهُ فَإِذا هُوَ زاهِقٌ ۚ وَلَكُمُ الوَيلُ مِمّا تَصِفونَ

Rather, We dash the truth upon falsehood, and it destroys it, and thereupon it departs. And for you is destruction from that which you describe.

وَلَهُ مَن فِي السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ ۚ وَمَن عِندَهُ لا يَستَكبِرونَ عَن عِبادَتِهِ وَلا يَستَحسِرونَ

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.

يُسَبِّحونَ اللَّيلَ وَالنَّهارَ لا يَفتُرونَ

They exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken.

أَمِ اتَّخَذوا آلِهَةً مِنَ الأَرضِ هُم يُنشِرونَ

Or have men taken for themselves gods from the earth who resurrect [the dead]?