The people of 'Ad accused the messengers of lies. 123 Their brother Hud asked them, "Why do you not have fear of God? 124 Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you, 125 So fear Allah and obey me. 126 For this I ask of you no wage, for my wage falls only on the Lord of the Worlds. 127 What, you build a monument on every hill merely for fun 128 And take ye for yourselves castles that haply ye may abide. 129 "And when ye exert your strong hand, do ye do it like men of absolute power? 130 "Be, then, conscious of God and pay heed unto me: 131 "Yea, fear Him Who has bestowed on you freely all that ye know. 132 He has given you cattle, children, 133 “And with gardens and water-springs.” 134 I am afraid that you will suffer the torment of the Day of Judgment." 135 They said: "It is the same to us whether you preach or be not of those who preach. 136 This is not but the custom of the former peoples, 137 and we shall not be punished." 138 In response they denied him – We therefore destroyed them; indeed in this is a sign; and most of them were not believers. 139 And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful. 140