And when Our Messengers brought Abraham the glad tidings they said: 'We are destroying the people of this village, because its people are harmdoers' 31 He said, "Lut is in it!”; they said, “We know very well who all are there; we shall rescue him and his family, except his wife; she is of those who will stay behind.” 32 And when Our messengers came unto Lot, he was troubled upon their account, for he could not protect them; but they said: Fear not, nor grieve! Lo! we are to deliver thee and thy household, (all) save thy wife, who is of those who stay behind. 33 “We will indeed cause a punishment from the sky to descend upon the inhabitants of this town – the recompense of their disobedience.” 34 And We have certainly left of it a sign as clear evidence for a people who use reason. 35 And We sent to Midian their brother Shuayb. He said: “My people, serve Allah and look forward to the Last Day and do not go about the earth committing mischief.” 36 But they cried lies to him; so the earthquake seized them, and morning found them in their habitation fallen prostrate. 37 And [We destroyed] 'Aad and Thamud, and it has become clear to you from their [ruined] dwellings. And Satan had made pleasing to them their deeds and averted them from the path, and they were endowed with perception. 38 And (We destroyed) Qaroun and Firon and Haman; and certainly Musa came to them with clear arguments, but they behaved haughtily in the land; yet they could not outstrip (Us). 39 Each We seized for his sin; and of them against some We loosed a squall of pebbles and some were seized by the Cry, and some We made the earth to swallow, and some We drowned; God would never wrong them, but they wronged themselves. 40 The semblance of those who take protectors besides God is that of the spider. She arranges a house for herself, but the flimsiest of houses is the spider's. If only they had sense! 41 Lo! Allah knoweth what thing they invoke instead of Him. He is the Mighty, the Wise. 42 And so We propound these parables unto man: but none can grasp their innermost meaning save those who [of Us] are aware 43 Allah created the heavens and the earth with the truth; indeed in this is a sign for the Muslims. 44