"And follow not the bidding of those who are extravagant,-

"Who make mischief in the land, and mend not (their ways)."

They said: "Thou art only one of those bewitched!

"Thou art no more than a mortal like us: then bring us a Sign, if thou tellest the truth!"

He said: "Here is a she-camel: she has a right of watering, and ye have a right of watering, (severally) on a day appointed.

"Touch her not with harm, lest the Penalty of a Great Day seize you."

But they ham-strung her: then did they become full of regrets.

But the Penalty seized them. Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.

And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.

The people of Lut rejected the messengers.

Behold, their brother Lut said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)?

"I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.

"So fear Allah and obey me.

"No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the lord of the Worlds.

"Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males,

"And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!"

They said: "If thou desist not, O Lut! thou wilt assuredly be cast out!"

He said: "I do detest your doings."

"O my Lord! deliver me and my family from such things as they do!"

So We delivered him and his family,- all

Except an old woman who lingered behind.

But the rest We destroyed utterly.

We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)!

Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.

And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might Most Merciful.

The Companions of the Wood rejected the messengers.

Behold, Shu'aib said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)?

"I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.

"So fear Allah and obey me.

"No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.

"Give just measure, and cause no loss (to others by fraud).

"And weigh with scales true and upright.

"And withhold not things justly due to men, nor do evil in the land, working mischief.

"And fear Him Who created you and (who created) the generations before (you)"

They said: "Thou art only one of those bewitched!

"Thou art no more than a mortal like us, and indeed we think thou art a liar!

"Now cause a piece of the sky to fall on us, if thou art truthful!"

He said: "My Lord knows best what ye do."

But they rejected him. Then the punishment of a day of overshadowing gloom seized them, and that was the Penalty of a Great Day.

Verily in that is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.

And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.

Verily this is a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds:

With it came down the spirit of Faith and Truth-

To thy heart and mind, that thou mayest admonish.

In the perspicuous Arabic tongue.

Without doubt it is (announced) in the mystic Books of former peoples.

Is it not a Sign to them that the Learned of the Children of Israel knew it (as true)?

Had We revealed it to any of the non-Arabs,

And had he recited it to them, they would not have believed in it.

Thus have We caused it to enter the hearts of the sinners.