It is God who appointed for you the cattle, some of them to ride and of some you eat; 79 And there are other benefits in them for you and that ye may attain thereby to any need that is in your breasts and upon them and upon ships ye are borne. 80 Allah shows His Signs to you; then which of Allah's Signs will you deny? 81 Have they never journeyed through the land and seen what was the end of those who have gone before them? They were stronger than themselves in might and left firmer traces upon the earth; yet, whatsoever they earned did not help them. 82 And when their messengers came to them with clear proofs, they [merely] rejoiced in what they had of knowledge, but they were enveloped by what they used to ridicule. 83 So that when they saw Our might, they said: "We believe in God the one and single, and reject those we associated (with Him)." -- 84 So their accepting of faith did not benefit them when they saw Our punishment; the tradition of Allah which has passed among His bondmen; and there were the disbelievers ruined. 85