(O Prophet), did the story of Abraham's honoured guests reach you? 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 went to his family and came with a fat [roasted] calf 26 And he set it before them, and said: wherefore eat ye not? 27 (When they did not eat), He conceived a fear of them. They said, "Fear not," and they gave him glad tidings of a son endowed with knowledge. 28 Then his wife came up in great grief, and she struck her face and said: An old barren woman! 29 They said, "Thus has said your Lord; indeed, He is the Wise, the Knowing." 30 ۞ He said: "What is then your business, O messengers?" 31 They said, “We have been sent towards a guilty nation.” 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 But We found in it only one household of those who had surrendered themselves, 36 And We left behind therein a portent for those who fear a painful doom. 37 And in Moses [was a sign], when We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority. 38 but he turned his back, with his court, saying, 'A sorcerer, or a man possessed!' 39 So We seized him and his hosts and hurled them into the sea and he was blamable. 40 And in 'Ad (there is also a sign) when We sent against them the barren wind; 41 It left not aught whereon it came but it made it as matter decayed. 42 In the Thamud [there was another sign], when they were told, "Make the most of your lives for a while." 43 In response they rebelled against their Lord’s command, so the thunderbolt seized them whilst they were watching. 44 they could not stand up again, nor could they defend themselves. 45 (So had We destroyed) the people of Noah before them: They were surely a sinful people. 46