AND HAS the story of Abraham's honoured guests ever come within thy ken? 24 When they came to him saying, "Peace be with you," he replied to their greeting in the same manner and said to himself, "These are a strange people". 25 Then he turned away privately unto his household, and brought a calf fatted. 26 So he brought it near them. He said: What! will you not eat? 27 He felt afraid of them; but they said: "Have no fear," and gave him the good news of a wise son. 28 His wife came out lamenting, striking her forehead, and said: "I, am old and barren woman?" 29 They said: even so saith thine Lord. Verily He! He is the Wise, the Knower. 30 ۞ [Ibrahim (Abraham)] said: "Then for what purpose you have come, O Messengers?" 31 They answered: "Behold, we have been sent unto a people lost in sin, 32 That we may send down upon them stones of baked clay. 33 “That are kept marked, with your Lord, for the transgressors.” 34 We saved the believers among them, 35 And We found not therein more than one house of the Muslims. 36 and left therein a sign for those who fear the painful punishment. 37 There is also evidence (of the Truth) in the story of Moses when We sent him to the Pharaoh with clear authority. 38 But he withdrew (confiding) in his might, and said: A wizard or a madman. 39 Then We laid hold of him and his hosts and flung them into the sea, and he was reproachable. 40 And in (the tribe of) A'ad (there is a portent) when we sent the fatal wind against them. 41 It spared naught that it reached, but made it (all) as dust. 42 In the Thamud [there was another sign], when they were told, "Make the most of your lives for a while." 43 They transgressed against the command of their Lord. So a blast of sound struck them and they were unable to do anything but stare. 44 They were unable even to stand up or protect themselves. 45 (So had We destroyed) the people of Noah before them: They were surely a sinful people. 46