AND HAS the story of Abraham's honoured guests ever come within thy ken? 24 When they came in to him, and said, "Salam, (peace be upon you)!" He answered; "Salam, (peace be upon you)," and said: "You are a people unknown to me," 25 He went quietly to his wife and returned to his guests with a fat, roasted calf. 26 And placed it before them, (saying): "Will you not eat?" 27 He began to feel afraid. They said, "Do not be afraid," and then gave him the glad news of the birth of a knowledgeable son. 28 Then his wife drew near vociferating, and smote her face, and said: an old barren woman! 29 They said: Even so saith thy Lord. Lo! He is the Wise, the Knower. 30 ۞ Abraham asked, "What is your errand, O messengers?" 31 They said: Lo! we are sent unto a guilty folk, 32 That we may send down upon them stone of clay, 33 Marked, from before thy Lord, for the extravagant. 34 So We brought out whoever was in the cities of the believers. 35 But We did not find therein save a (single) house of those who submitted (the Muslims). 36 And We left therein a sign for those who fear the afflictive torment. 37 In Moses, too, (there were signs). We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority, 38 but he turned his back with his Assembly, saying: 'He is (either) a sorcerer or a mad man' 39 We seized him and his army and threw them into the sea. He himself was to be blamed. 40 And in 'A-ad also was a lesson, when We sent against them the barren wind. 41 It left nothing whatever that it came up against, but reduced it to ruin and rottenness. 42 And in [the story of the tribe of] Thamud, too, when they were told, "You shall enjoy your life for [but] a little while," 43 Then they disdained the command of their Lord; wherefore the bolt laid hold of them even while they looked on. 44 Then they were unable to rise up, nor could they help themselves. 45 And [We destroyed] the people of Noah before; indeed, they were a people defiantly disobedient. 46