۞ And to the Thamud tribe, We sent their fellow man Saleh; he said, “O my people! Worship Allah, there is no other True God except Him; He created you from the earth and established you in it, so seek forgiveness from Him and incline towards Him in repentance; indeed my Lord is Close, Acceptor of Prayer.” 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; O my people! bethink if I rest on an evidence from my Lord, and there hath come to me from Him a mercy, then who will succour me against Allah, if I disobey Him? Ye then increase me not save in loss. 63 And, O my people! this will be (as) Allah's she-camel for you, a sign; therefore leave her to pasture on Allah's earth and do not touch her with evil, for then a near chastisement will overtake you. 64 But they hamstrung her, so he said, "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. That is a promise not to be denied." 65 When Our decree came to pass. We mercifully saved Salih and his faithful followers from that day's ignominy. Your Lord is certainly Mighty and Majestic. 66 A blast struck the unjust and they were found lying motionless on their faces 67 as though they had never lived there. Indeed, Thamood disbelieved in their Lord. So, begone Thamood. 68