۞ Be warned! Accursed are the people of 'Ad who were Hud's. To Thamud We Sent their brother Saleh. "O my people," he said, "worship God; you have no other god but He. It is He who raised you from the earth and settled you upon it. So beg your Lord to forgive you, and turn to Him in repentance. Surely my Lord is near and answers." 61 They answered: "O Salih! Great hopes did we place in thee ere this! Wouldst thou forbid us to worship what our forefathers were wont to worship? Because [of this,] behold, we are in grave doubt, amounting to suspicion, about [the meaning of] thy call to us!" 62 He said, "My people, think. I have received authoritative evidence and mercy from my Lord, so who will protect me from God if I disobey Him? You certainly want to destroy me. 63 O my people! This is the camel of Allah, a token unto you, so suffer her to feed in Allah's earth, and touch her not with harm lest a near torment seize you. 64 But they hamstrung her. Then (Saleh) said: "You have but three days to enjoy life in your homes. Infallible is this promise. 65 So, when Our command (of punishment) came We delivered Saleh by Our grace, and those who believed, with him, from the disgrace of that day. Verily your Lord is mighty and powerful. 66 And the rumbling overtook those who were unjust, so they became motionless bodies in their abodes, 67 As if they had never prospered therein. Unquestionably, Thamud denied their Lord; then, away with Thamud. 68