Hath there come unto thee the story of Ibrahim's honoured guests? 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 So he hurried to the house and brought a fatted calf, 26 and he laid it before them saying, 'Will you not 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 Then came forward his wife, clamouring, and she smote her face, and said, 'An old woman, barren!' 29 They said, "Thus has said your Lord; indeed, He is the Wise, the Knowing." 30 ۞ He said: what then is your errand! O ye sent ones! 31 They replied: “Behold, we have been sent to a wicked people 32 to let loose upon them stone-hard blows of chastisement, 33 marked by your Lord for the sinful' 34 So We brought out whoever was in the cities of the believers. 35 but We found not therein except one house of those that have surrendered themselves. 36 And We have left there a sign (i.e. the place of the Dead Sea, well-known in Palestine) for those who fear the painful torment. 37 And in Moosa, when We sent him with a clear proof towards Firaun. 38 But (Pharaoh) turned back with his Chiefs, and said, "A sorcerer, or one possessed!" 39 So We seized him and his hosts and cast them into the sea. Indeed, he was blameworthy. 40 There is also evidence of the Truth in the story of Ad whom We struck with a violent wind 41 and it destroyed everything over which it passed and reduced it to dust. 42 And in Thamud's also was a lesson, when it was said unto them: enjoy yourselves for a season. 43 But they revolted against the commandment of their Lord, so the rumbling overtook them while they saw. 44 Then they were unable to rise up, nor could they help themselves. 45 And before them, We destroyed the people of Nooh; they were indeed a sinning nation. 46