Has the story reached thee, of the honoured guests of Abraham? 24 When those [heavenly messengers] came unto him and bade him peace, he answered, "[And upon you be] peace!" - [saying to himself,] "They are strangers." 25 He went quietly to his wife and returned to his guests with a fat, roasted calf. 26 And placed it near them; he said, "Will you not eat?" 27 So he conceived in his mind a fear on account of them. They said: Fear not. And they gave him the good news of a boy possessing knowledge. 28 Thereupon his wife approached [the guests] with a loud cry, and struck her face [in astonishment] and exclaimed: "A barren old woman [like me]!" 29 'Such, says your Lord' they replied: 'He is the Wise, the Knower' 30 ۞ Abraham asked, "Messengers, what is your task?" 31 They replied: 'We are sent to a sinful nation, 32 to let loose upon them stone-hard blows of chastisement, 33 "Marked as from thy Lord for those who trespass beyond bounds." 34 So We brought the believers out of that they were in. 35 but We found not therein except one house of those that have surrendered themselves. 36 And We left therein a sign for those who fear the afflictive torment. 37 As (there was) in Moses when We sent him to the Pharaoh with clear authority. 38 In response, he turned away along with his army and said, “He is a magician or a madman.” 39 Then We seized him and his army and cast them all into the sea: he himself [Pharaoh] was to blame. 40 And in the 'Ad (people) (was another Sign): Behold, We sent against them the devastating Wind: 41 Which turned everything it touched to ashes. 42 And in (the tribe of) Thamud (there is a portent) when it was told them: Take your ease awhile. 43 But they rebelled against the command of their Lord. So the thunderbolt overtook them while they looked on: 44 they could neither stand up straight, nor were they helped. 45 And the people of Nuh before, surely they were a transgressing people. 46