AND HAS the story of Abraham's honoured guests ever come within thy ken? 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 Then he went to his family and came with a fat [roasted] calf 26 And placed it before them, (saying): "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 His wife came forward, crying and beating her face, saying, "I am an old barren woman!" 29 They said: Even so saith thy Lord. Lo! He is the Wise, the Knower. 30 ۞ He said: "What is then your business, O messengers?" 31 They replied: 'We are sent to a sinful nation, 32 to let loose upon them stone-hard blows of chastisement, 33 Sent forth from your Lord for the extravagant. 34 We saved the believers among them, 35 But We found in it only one household of those who had surrendered themselves, 36 And We left there a Sign for such as fear the Grievous Penalty. 37 And in Musa: When We sent him to Firon with clear authority. 38 and he turned away in [the pride of] his power and said, "A sorcerer [is this Moses,] 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 'A-ad also was a lesson, when We sent against them the barren wind. 41 that left nothing it came upon, except that it was ashes. 42 And in Thamud, when it was said to them, "Enjoy yourselves for a time." 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 could not stand up again, nor could they defend themselves. 45 And before them the nation of Noah, indeed they were a debauched nation. 46