Is it not a lesson for the successors of the past generations that had We wanted, We could have punished them for their sins, sealed their hearts and deprived them of hearing? 100 Those cities - We relate to you, [O Muhammad], some of their news. And certainly did their messengers come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe in that which they had denied before. Thus does Allah seal over the hearts of the disbelievers. 101 We did not find the covenant upheld by the majority of them, but We found most of them evildoers. 102 After them We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs. But they willfully rejected them. Consider the end of the evil-doers. 103 Moses said, 'Pharaoh, I am a Messenger from the Lord of all Being, 104 Incumbent it is upon me that I speak naught respecting Allah save the truth; surely I have brought you an evidence from your Lord; wherefore let then go with me the Children of Isra'il. 105 He said: if thou hast brought a sign, forth with it then, if thou art of the truth-tellers. 106 Thereupon [Moses] threw down his staff, and lo! it was a serpent, plainly visible; 107 And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers. 108