AND NEVER YET have We sent a prophet unto any community without trying its people with misfortune and hardship, so that they might humble themselves; 94 then We transformed the affliction into ease of life, so that they throve and said [to themselves,] "Misfortune and hardship befell our forefathers as well - whereupon We took them to task, all of a sudden, without their being aware [of what was coming]. 95 Yet if the people of those communities had but attained to faith and been conscious of Us, We would indeed have opened up for them blessings out of heaven and earth: but they gave the lie to the truth - and so We took them to task through what they [themselves] had been doing. 96 Do the people of those towns feel secure that Our punishment will not come to them at night while they are asleep? 97 Do the people of the cities feel secure Our might shall not come upon them in daylight while they are playing? 98 Did they consider themselves secure from the retribution of God? No one can have such attitude except those who are lost. 99