To the Thamud, We sent their brother, Salih. He said, ‘My people, worship God. You have no god other than Him. It was He who brought you into being from the earth and made you inhabit it, so ask forgiveness from Him, and turn back to Him: my Lord is near, and ready to answer.’

They said, ‘Salih, We used to have such great hope in you. Will you forbid us to worship what our fathers worshipped? We are in grave doubt about what you are asking us to do.’

He said, ‘My people, just think: if I did have clear proof from my Lord, and if He had given me mercy of His own, who could protect me from God if I disobeyed Him? You would only make my loss greater.

My people, this camel belongs to God, a sign for you, so leave it to pasture on God’s earth and do not harm it, or you will soon be punished.’

But they hamstrung it, so he said, ‘Enjoy life for another three days:

this warning will not prove false.’ And so, when Our command was fulfilled, by Our mercy We saved Salih and his fellow believers from the disgrace of that day. [Prophet], it is your Lord who is the Strong, the Mighty One.

The blast struck the evildoers and they lay dead in their homes,

as though they had never lived and flourished there. Yes, the Thamud denied their Lord- so away with the Thamud!

۞ وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَٰلِحࣰاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥۖ هُوَ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا فَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبࣱ مُّجِيبࣱ

قَالُوا۟ يَٰصَٰلِحُ قَدْ كُنتَ فِينَا مَرْجُوࣰّا قَبْلَ هَٰذَآۖ أَتَنْهَىٰنَآ أَن نَّعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا وَإِنَّنَا لَفِي شَكࣲّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبࣲ

قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةࣲ مِّن رَّبِّي وَءَاتَىٰنِي مِنْهُ رَحْمَةࣰ فَمَن يَنصُرُنِي مِنَ ٱللَّهِ إِنْ عَصَيْتُهُۥۖ فَمَا تَزِيدُونَنِي غَيْرَ تَخْسِيرࣲ

وَيَٰقَوْمِ هَٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةࣰۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِيٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءࣲ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابࣱ قَرِيبࣱ

فَعَقَرُوهَا فَقَالَ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فِي دَارِكُمْ ثَلَٰثَةَ أَيَّامࣲۖ ذَٰلِكَ وَعْدٌ غَيْرُ مَكْذُوبࣲ

فَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا صَٰلِحࣰا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةࣲ مِّنَّا وَمِنْ خِزْيِ يَوْمِئِذٍۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ ٱلْقَوِيُّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ

وَأَخَذَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِي دِيَٰرِهِمْ جَٰثِمِينَ

كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا۟ فِيهَآۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ ثَمُودَا۟ كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْۗ أَلَا بُعْدࣰا لِّثَمُودَ

To Abraham Our messengers brought good news. They said, ‘Peace.’ He answered, ‘Peace,’ and without delay he brought in a roasted calf.

When he saw that their hands did not reach towards the meal, he found this strange and became afraid of them. But they said, ‘Do not be afraid. We have been sent against the people of Lot.’

His wife was standing [nearby] and laughed. We gave her good news of Isaac and, after him, of Jacob.

She said, ‘Alas for me! How am I to bear a child when I am an old woman, and my husband here is an old man? That would be a strange thing!’

They said, ‘Are you astonished at what God ordains? The grace of God and His blessings be upon you, people of this house! For He is worthy of all praise and glory.’

Then, when the fear left Abraham and the good news came to him, he pleaded with Us for Lot’s people,

for Abraham was forbearing, tender-hearted, and devout.

‘Abraham, cease your pleading: what your Lord has ordained has come about; punishment is coming to them, which cannot be turned back.’

وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ بِٱلْبُشْرَىٰ قَالُوا۟ سَلَٰمࣰاۖ قَالَ سَلَٰمࣱۖ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَآءَ بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذࣲ

فَلَمَّا رَءَآ أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةࣰۚ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِ لُوطࣲ

وَٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ قَآئِمَةࣱ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَٰهَا بِإِسْحَٰقَ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسْحَٰقَ يَعْقُوبَ

قَالَتْ يَٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ ءَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا۠ عَجُوزࣱ وَهَٰذَا بَعْلِي شَيْخًاۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَيْءٌ عَجِيبࣱ

قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِۖ رَحْمَتُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَٰتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِۚ إِنَّهُۥ حَمِيدࣱ مَّجِيدࣱ

فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلرَّوْعُ وَجَآءَتْهُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ يُجَٰدِلُنَا فِي قَوْمِ لُوطٍ

إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّٰهࣱ مُّنِيبࣱ

يَٰٓإِبْرَٰهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَٰذَآۖ إِنَّهُۥ قَدْ جَآءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَۖ وَإِنَّهُمْ ءَاتِيهِمْ عَذَابٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودࣲ

And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was anxious for them, feeling powerless to protect them, and said, ‘This is a truly terrible day!’

His people came rushing towards him; they used to commit foul deeds. He said, ‘My people, here are my daughters.They are more wholesome for you, so have some fear of God and do not disgrace me with my guests. Is there not a single right-minded man among you?’

They said, ‘You know very well that we have no right to your daughters. You know very well what we want.’

He said, ‘If only I had the strength to stop you or could rely on strong support!’

They [the messengers] said, ‘Lot, we are your Lord’s messengers. They will not reach you. Leave with your household in the dead of night, and let none of you turn back. Only your wife will suffer the fate that befalls the others. Their appointed time is the morning: is the morning not near?’

And so when what We had ordained came about, We turned their town upside down and rained down stones of baked clay on it, layer upon layer,

marked from your Lord. It is not far from the evildoers.

وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطࣰا سِيٓءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعࣰا وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبࣱ

وَجَآءَهُۥ قَوْمُهُۥ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ فِي ضَيْفِيٓۖ أَلَيْسَ مِنكُمْ رَجُلࣱ رَّشِيدࣱ

قَالُوا۟ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِي بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقࣲّ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ

قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ ءَاوِيٓ إِلَىٰ رُكْنࣲ شَدِيدࣲ

قَالُوا۟ يَٰلُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَن يَصِلُوٓا۟ إِلَيْكَۖ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعࣲ مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَكَۖ إِنَّهُۥ مُصِيبُهَا مَآ أَصَابَهُمْۚ إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ ٱلصُّبْحُۚ أَلَيْسَ ٱلصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيبࣲ

فَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَٰلِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةࣰ مِّن سِجِّيلࣲ مَّنضُودࣲ

مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَۖ وَمَا هِيَ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ بِبَعِيدࣲ

And to Midian, We sent their brother Shuayb. He said, ‘My people, worship God. You have no god other than Him. Do not give short measure nor short weight. I see you are prospering, but I fear you will have torment on an overwhelming Day.

My people, in fairness, give full measure and weight. Do not withhold from people things that are rightly theirs, and do not spread corruption in the land.

What lasts with God is best for you, if you are believers: I am not your keeper.’

They said, ‘Shuayb, does your prayer tell you that we should abandon what our forefathers worshipped and refrain from doing whatever we please with our own property? Indeed you are a tolerant and sensible man.’

He answered, ‘My people, can you not see? What if I am acting on clear evidence from my Lord? He Himself has given me good provision: I do not want to do what I am forbidding you to do, I only want to put things right as far as I can. I cannot succeed without God’s help: I trust in Him, and always turn to Him.

My people, do not let your opposition to me bring upon you a similar fate to the peoples of Noah or Hud or Salih; the people of Lot are not far away from you.

Ask forgiveness from your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance: my Lord is merciful and most loving.’

۞ وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبࣰاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥۖ وَلَا تَنقُصُوا۟ ٱلْمِكْيَالَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَۖ إِنِّيٓ أَرَىٰكُم بِخَيْرࣲ وَإِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمࣲ مُّحِيطࣲ

وَيَٰقَوْمِ أَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْمِكْيَالَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ بِٱلْقِسْطِۖ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشْيَآءَهُمْ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِي ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ

بَقِيَّتُ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرࣱ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَۚ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ عَلَيْكُم بِحَفِيظࣲ

قَالُوا۟ يَٰشُعَيْبُ أَصَلَوٰتُكَ تَأْمُرُكَ أَن نَّتْرُكَ مَا يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَآ أَوْ أَن نَّفْعَلَ فِيٓ أَمْوَٰلِنَا مَا نَشَٰٓؤُا۟ۖ إِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ ٱلْحَلِيمُ ٱلرَّشِيدُ

قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةࣲ مِّن رَّبِّي وَرَزَقَنِي مِنْهُ رِزْقًا حَسَنࣰاۚ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنْهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُۚ إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا ٱلْإِصْلَٰحَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُۚ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِيٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ

وَيَٰقَوْمِ لَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شِقَاقِيٓ أَن يُصِيبَكُم مِّثْلُ مَآ أَصَابَ قَوْمَ نُوحٍ أَوْ قَوْمَ هُودٍ أَوْ قَوْمَ صَٰلِحࣲۚ وَمَا قَوْمُ لُوطࣲ مِّنكُم بِبَعِيدࣲ

وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي رَحِيمࣱ وَدُودࣱ

They said, ‘Shuayb, we do not understand much of what you say, and we find you very weak in our midst. But for your family, we would have stoned you, for you have no great status among us.’

He said, ‘My people, is my family stronger in your estimation than God? And have you put Him behind you? My Lord surrounds everything you do.

My people, do whatever is within your power, and I will do likewise. Soon you will know who will receive a disgraceful punishment and who is a liar. Watch out, and so will I.’

When what We had ordained came about, in Our mercy We saved Shuayb and his fellow believers, but a mighty blast struck the wrongdoers. By morning they lay dead in their homes,

as if they had never lived and flourished there. Yes, away with the people of Midian, just like the Thamud!

قَالُوا۟ يَٰشُعَيْبُ مَا نَفْقَهُ كَثِيرࣰا مِّمَّا تَقُولُ وَإِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِينَا ضَعِيفࣰاۖ وَلَوْلَا رَهْطُكَ لَرَجَمْنَٰكَۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْنَا بِعَزِيزࣲ

قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ أَرَهْطِيٓ أَعَزُّ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱتَّخَذْتُمُوهُ وَرَآءَكُمْ ظِهْرِيًّاۖ إِنَّ رَبِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطࣱ

وَيَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّي عَٰمِلࣱۖ سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابࣱ يُخْزِيهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ كَٰذِبࣱۖ وَٱرْتَقِبُوٓا۟ إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ رَقِيبࣱ

وَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا شُعَيْبࣰا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةࣲ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِي دِيَٰرِهِمْ جَٰثِمِينَ

كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا۟ فِيهَآۗ أَلَا بُعْدࣰا لِّمَدْيَنَ كَمَا بَعِدَتْ ثَمُودُ