The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

236
The Quran 26: 137
no difference to us whether you warn us or not, 137 for we only do
what our forefathers used to do: 138 we shall not be punished.’
139 They denounced him as a liar, and so We destroyed them. There
truly is a sign in this, though most of them do not believe: 140 your
Lord alone is the Almighty, the Merciful.
141 The people of Thamud, too, called the messengers liars.
142 Their brother Salih said to them, ‘Will you not be mindful of
God? 143 I am a faithful messenger to you: 144 be mindful of God and
obey me. 145 I ask no reward from you, for my only reward is with the
Lord of the Worlds. 146 [Do you think] you will be left secure for ever
in what you have here – 147 gardens, springs, 148 fields, palm trees
laden with fruit – 149 carving your fine houses from the mountains?
150 Be mindful of God and obey me: 151 do not obey those who are
given to excess 152 and who spread corruption in the land instead of
doing what is right.’ 153 They said, ‘You are bewitched! 154 You are
nothing but a man like us. Show us a sign, if you are telling the
truth.’ 155 He said, ‘Here is a camel. She should have her turn to
drink and so should you, each on a specified day, 156 so do not harm
her, or the punishment of a terrible day will befall you.’ 157 But they
hamstrung her. In the morning they had cause to regret it: 158 the
punishment fell upon them. There truly is a sign in this, though
most of them will not believe: 159 your Lord alone is the Almighty, the
Merciful.
160 The people of Lot, too, called the messengers liars. 161 Their
brother Lot said to them, ‘Will you not be mindful of God? 162 I am a
faithful messenger to you: 163 be mindful of God and obey me. 164 I
ask no reward from you, for my only reward is with the Lord of the
Worlds. 165 Must you, unlike [other] people, lust after males 166 and
abandon the wives that God has created for you? You are exceeding
all bounds,’ 167 but they replied, ‘Lot! If you do not stop this, you will
be driven away.’ 168 So he said, ‘I loathe what you do: 169 Lord, save me
and my family from what they are doing.’ 170 We saved him and all his
family, 171 except for an old woman who stayed behind, 172 then We
destroyed the others, 173 and poured a rain of destruction down upon
them. How dreadful that rain was for those who had been forewarned!
174 There truly is a sign in this, though most of them will not
believe: 175 your Lord alone is the Almighty, the Merciful.
176 The forest-dwellers, too, called the messengers liars. 177 Shuayb
said to them, ‘Will you not be mindful of God? 178 I am a faithful