AND HAS the story of Abraham's honoured guests ever come within thy ken? 24 Behold, they entered his presence, and said: "Peace!" He said, "Peace!" (and thought, "These seem) unusual people." 25 Then he went to his home – so he brought a healthy calf. 26 He then presented it before them and said, “Do you not eat?” 27 beginning to be afraid of them. But they said, "Don't be afraid"; and they gave him the good news of a son who would be endowed with knowledge. 28 So his wife came screaming, and striking her forehead cried, “What! For a barren old woman?” 29 They answered: "Thus has thy Sustainer decreed; and verily, He alone is truly wise, all-knowing!" 30 ۞ He said: what then is your errand! O ye sent ones! 31 They said: Lo! we are sent unto a guilty folk, 32 That we may send down upon them stone of clay, 33 marked out in thy Sustainer's sight for [the punishment of] such as have wasted their own selves." 34 So We brought forth such believers as were in it, 35 for apart from one [single] house We did not find there any who had surrendered themselves to Us. 36 And We left therein a sign for those who fear the afflictive torment. 37 And also in Moses, when We sent him unto Pharaoh, with a clear authority, 38 but he turned his back with his Assembly, saying: 'He is (either) a sorcerer or a mad man' 39 So We took him and his forces, and threw them into the sea; and his was the blame. 40 And [you have the same message] in [what happened to the tribe of] Ad, when We let loose against them that life-destroying wind 41 Which turned everything it touched to ashes. 42 And in (the tribe of) Thamud (there is a portent) when it was told them: Take your ease awhile. 43 after they had turned with disdain from their Sustainer's commandment - whereupon the thunderbolt of punishment overtook them while they were [helplessly] looking on: 44 they could not stand up again, nor could they defend themselves. 45 And the people of Nuh before, surely they were a transgressing people. 46