AND HAS the story of Abraham's honoured guests ever come within thy ken? 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 turned quickly to his household, and brought a fatted calf, 26 and placed it before them. "Will you not eat?" he said, 27 Then he became afraid of them. They said: “Fear not,” and announced to him the good news of (the birth of) a boy endowed with knowledge. 28 Then came forward his wife, clamouring, and she smote her face, and said, 'An old woman, barren!' 29 They said, "Even so has thy Lord spoken: and He is full of Wisdom and Knowledge." 30 ۞ Said he, 'And what is your business, envoys?' 31 They said, “We have been sent towards a guilty nation.” 32 so that we bring down stones of clay upon them 33 “That are kept marked, with your Lord, for the transgressors.” 34 So We evacuated everyone who was a believer there, 35 But We found not there any just (Muslim) persons except in one house: 36 And We left therein a sign for those who fear the afflictive torment. 37 As (there was) in Moses when We sent him to the Pharaoh with clear authority. 38 The Pharaoh and his forces turned away from him, saying, "He is either a magician or an insane person". 39 So We seized him and his hosts, and cast them into the sea. He became an object of much blame. 40 There is another sign in the [tribe of] 'Ad, when We sent against them a life-destroying wind 41 It left not aught whereon it came but it made it as matter decayed. 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 they were not able to stand upright, and were not helped. 45 And the folk of Noah aforetime. Lo! they were licentious folk. 46