AND HAS the story of Abraham's honoured guests ever come within thy ken? 24 When they came to him and said, “Peace”; he answered, “Peace”; and thought, “These people are not familiar.” 25 Then he turned to his household and brought a fattened calf, 26 and placed it before them, saying, "Will you not eat?" 27 [And when he saw that the guests would not eat,] he became apprehensive of them; [but] they said, "Fear not" - and gave him the glad tiding of [the birth of] a son who would be endowed with deep knowledge. 28 Then his wife came forward, crying and beating her brow. She said, "I am surely a barren, old woman." 29 They said, “This is how your Lord has decreed; indeed He only is the Wise, the All Knowing.” 30 ۞ Said Ibrahim, “What is your task, O the sent angels?” 31 They said: Surely we are sent to a guilty people, 32 "To bring on, on them, (a shower of) stones of clay (brimstone), 33 Marked by your Lord for those who waste their substance." 34 So We brought the believers out of that they were in. 35 but We found not therein except one house of those that have surrendered themselves. 36 And We kept a sign remaining in it, for those who fear the painful punishment. 37 And in Moses (too, there is a portent) when We sent him unto Pharaoh with clear warrant, 38 Then he turned away with his court, and said: a magician or a madman. 39 We therefore seized him and his army and threw them into the sea, while he was blaming himself. 40 And in 'Aad [was a sign], when We sent against them the barren wind. 41 which turned everything it approached into dust. 42 There is also evidence (of the Truth) in the story of the Thamud, who were told to enjoy themselves for an appointed 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 and they were not able to stand upright, and were not helped. 45 And the people of Nuh We destroyed aforetime; verily they were a people transgressing. 46