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 turned quietly to his household, and brought forth a fat [roasted] calf, 26 And placing it before them said: "Won't you eat?" 27 Then he conceived a fear of them. They said, 'Be not afraid!' And they gave him good tidings of a cunning boy. 28 So his wife came screaming, and striking her forehead cried, “What! For a barren old woman?” 29 They said: Thus says your Lord: Surely He is the Wise, the Knowing. 30 ۞ Said [Abraham]: "And what [else] may you have in view, O you [heavenly] messengers?" 31 They said: "We have been sent to a people who are Mujrimun (polytheists, sinners, criminals, disbelievers in Allah); 32 so that we may bring down upon them a shower of stones of clay, 33 Marked by your Lord for those who waste their substance." 34 So We brought out whoever was in the cities of the believers. 35 for apart from one [single] house We did not find there any who had surrendered themselves to Us. 36 And We left behind therein a portent for those who fear a painful doom. 37 And in Moses (was another Sign): Behold, We sent him to Pharaoh, with authority manifest. 38 In response, he turned away along with his army and said, “He is a magician or a madman.” 39 So We seized him and his hosts and flung them in the sea, for he was reprobate. 40 In 'Ad (also is a sign), when We sent a blasting wind against them, 41 that left nothing it came upon, except that it was ashes. 42 And in Thamud's also was a lesson, when it was said unto them: enjoy yourselves for a season. 43 But they brazenly disobeyed their Lord's command, and then a sudden chastisement overtook them while they looked on. 44 Then they were unable to rise up, nor could they help themselves. 45 And the folk of Noah aforetime. Lo! they were licentious folk. 46