AND HAS the story of Abraham's honoured guests ever come within thy ken? 24 When they came in to him, and said, "Salam, (peace be upon you)!" He answered; "Salam, (peace be upon you)," and said: "You are a people unknown to me," 25 He went quietly to his wife and returned to his guests with a fat, roasted calf. 26 And placing it before them said: "Won't you eat?" 27 So he conceived in his mind a fear on account of them. They said: Fear not. And they gave him the good news of a boy possessing knowledge. 28 His wife came out lamenting, striking her forehead, and said: "I, am old and barren woman?" 29 They said: Even so saith thy Lord. Lo! He is the Wise, the Knower. 30 ۞ Abraham asked, "Messengers, what is your task?" 31 They said, 'We have been sent to a people of sinners, 32 to let loose upon them stone-hard blows of chastisement, 33 marked out in thy Sustainer's sight for [the punishment of] such as have wasted their own selves." 34 We saved the believers among them, 35 But We found in it only one household of those who had surrendered themselves, 36 And We left therein a sign for those who fear the afflictive torment. 37 And in Moses (was another Sign): Behold, We sent him to Pharaoh, with authority manifest. 38 But he withdrew (confiding) in his might, and said: A wizard or a madman. 39 So We seized him and his hosts, and cast them into the sea. He became an object of much blame. 40 In 'Ad (also is a sign), when We sent a blasting wind against them, 41 that left nothing it came upon, but made it as stuff decayed. 42 There is also a Sign for you in (the story of) Thamud. They were told: “Enjoy yourselves for a while.” 43 But they were insolent toward the command of their Lord, so the thunderbolt seized them while they were looking on. 44 And they were unable to arise, nor could they defend themselves. 45 So were the People of Noah before them for they wickedly transgressed. 46