AND HAS the story of Abraham's honoured guests ever come within thy ken? 24 When they came in unto him and said: peace! he said: peace! people unknown. 25 Then he turned to his household and brought a fattened calf, 26 So he brought it near them. He said: What! 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 came forward his wife, clamouring, and she smote her face, and said, 'An old woman, barren!' 29 They said, 'So says thy Lord; He is the All-wise, the All-knowing.' 30 ۞ Said he, 'And what is your business, envoys?' 31 They said: "We have been sent to a people who are Mujrimun (polytheists, sinners, criminals, disbelievers in Allah); 32 so that we bring down stones of clay upon them 33 marked out in thy Sustainer's sight for [the punishment of] such as have wasted their own selves." 34 So We brought forth such believers as were in it, 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 Moses (too, there is a portent) when We sent him unto Pharaoh with clear warrant, 38 In response, he turned away along with his army and said, “He is a magician or a madman.” 39 Then We laid hold of him and his hosts and flung them into the sea, and he was reproachable. 40 In 'Ad (also is a sign), when We sent a blasting wind against them, 41 It did not leave aught on which it blew, but it made it like ashes. 42 And in [the story of the tribe of] Thamud, too, when they were told, "You shall enjoy your life for [but] a little while," 43 In response they rebelled against their Lord’s command, so the thunderbolt seized them whilst they were watching. 44 And neither stand up nor defend themselves. 45 And before them, We destroyed the people of Nooh; they were indeed a sinning nation. 46