16. Ami ittakhatha mimma yakhluqu banatin waasfakum bialbaneena
16. What! has He taken daughters out of what He himself creates, and granted to you sons for choice?
17. Wa-itha bushshira ahaduhum bima daraba lilrrahmani mathalan thalla wajhuhu muswaddan wahuwa katheemun
17. When news is brought to one of them of (the birth of) what he sets up as a likeness to ((Allah)) Most Gracious, his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief!
18. Awaman yunashshao fee alhilyati wahuwa fee alkhisami ghayru mubeenin
18. Is then one brought up among trinkets, and unable to give a clear account in a dispute (to be associated with Allah.?
19. WajaAAaloo almala-ikata allatheena hum AAibadu alrrahmani inathan ashahidoo khalqahum satuktabu shahadatuhum wayus-aloona
19. And they make into females angels who themselves serve Allah. Did they witness their creation? Their evidence will be recorded, and they will be called to account!
20. Waqaloo law shaa alrrahmanu ma AAabadnahum ma lahum bithalika min AAilmin in hum illa yakhrusoona
20. ("Ah!") they say, "If it had been the will of ((Allah)) Most Gracious, we should not have worshipped such (deities)!" Of that they have no knowledge! they do nothing but lie!
21. Am ataynahum kitaban min qablihi fahum bihi mustamsikoona
21. What! have We given them a Book before this, to which they are holding fast?
22. Bal qaloo inna wajadna abaana AAala ommatin wa-inna AAala atharihim muhtadoona
22. Nay! they say: "We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we do guide ourselves by their footsteps."
23. Wakathalika ma arsalna min qablika fee qaryatin min natheerin illa qala mutrafooha inna wajadna abaana AAala ommatin wa-inna AAala atharihim muqtadoona
23. Just in the same way, whenever We sent a Warner before thee to any people, the wealthy ones among them said: "We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we will certainly follow in their footsteps."
24. Qala awa law ji/tukum bi-ahda mimma wajadtum AAalayhi abaakum qaloo inna bima orsiltum bihi kafiroona
24. He said: "What! Even if I brought you better guidance than that which ye found your fathers following?" They said: "For us, we deny that ye (prophets) are sent (on a mission at all)."
25. Faintaqamna minhum faonthur kayfa kana AAaqibatu almukaththibeena
25. So We exacted retribution from them: now see what was the end of those who rejected (Truth)!