(213) Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the Scripture except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.
(253) Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the Son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Pure Spirit. If Allah had willed, those [generations] succeeding them would not have fought each other after the clear proofs had come to them. But they differed, and some of them believed and some of them disbelieved. And if Allah had willed, they would not have fought each other, but Allah does what He intends.
(9) Has there not reached you the news of those before you - the people of Noah and "Aad and Thamud and those after them? No one knows them but Allah. Their messengers brought them clear proofs, but they returned their hands to their mouths and said, "Indeed, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent, and indeed we are, about that to which you invite us, in disquieting doubt. (10) Their messengers said, "Can there be doubt about Allah, Creator of the heavens and earth? He invites you that He may forgive you of your sins, and He delays your death for a specified term." They said, "You are not but men like us who wish to avert us from what our fathers were worshipping. So bring us a clear authority. (11) Their messengers said to them, "We are only men like you, but Allah confers favor upon whom He wills of His servants. It has never been for us to bring you evidence except by permission of Allah. And upon Allah let the believers rely. (12) And why should we not rely upon Allah while He has guided us to our [good] ways. And we will surely be patient against whatever harm you should cause us. And upon Allah let those who would rely [indeed] rely. (13) And those who disbelieved said to their messengers, "We will surely drive you out of our land, or you must return to our religion." So their Lord inspired to them, "We will surely destroy the wrongdoers. (14) And We will surely cause you to dwell in the land after them. That is for he who fears My position and fears My threat. (15) And they requested victory from Allah, and disappointed, [therefore], was every obstinate tyrant.
(42) Then We produced after them other generations. (43) No nation will precede its time [of termination], nor will they remain [thereafter]. (44) Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation its messenger, they denied him, so We made them follow one another [to destruction], and We made them narrations. So away with a people who do not believe.
(38) And [We destroyed] "Aad and Thamud and the companions of the well and many generations between them. (39) And for each We presented examples [as warnings], and each We destroyed with [total] destruction.
(38) And [We destroyed] "Aad and Thamud, and it has become clear to you from their [ruined] dwellings. And Satan had made pleasing to them their deeds and averted them from the path, and they were endowed with perception. (39) And [We destroyed] Qarun and Pharaoh and Haman. And Moses had already come to them with clear evidences, and they were arrogant in the land, but they were not outrunners [of Our punishment]. (40) So each We seized for his sin; and among them were those upon whom We sent a storm of stones, and among them were those who were seized by the blast [from the sky], and among them were those whom We caused the earth to swallow, and among them were those whom We drowned. And Allah would not have wronged them, but it was they who were wronging themselves.
(34) And We did not send into a city any warner except that its affluent said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers. (35) And they said, "We are more [than the believers] in wealth and children, and we are not to be punished.
(30) How regretful for the servants. There did not come to them any messenger except that they used to ridicule him.
(71) And there had already strayed before them most of the former peoples. (72) And We had already sent among them warners. (73) Then look how was the end of those who were warned. (74) But not the chosen servants of Allah.
(3) How many a generation have We destroyed before them, and they [then] called out; but it was not a time for escape.
(5) The people of Noah denied before them and the [disbelieving] factions after them, and every nation intended [a plot] for their messenger to seize him, and they disputed by [using] falsehood to [attempt to] invalidate thereby the truth. So I seized them, and how [terrible] was My penalty.
(22) That was because their messengers were coming to them with clear proofs, but they disbelieved, so Allah seized them. Indeed, He is Powerful and severe in punishment.
(6) And how many a prophet We sent among the former peoples. (7) But there would not come to them a prophet except that they used to ridicule him. (8) And We destroyed greater than them in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded.
(23) And similarly, We did not send before you any warner into a city except that its affluent said, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are, in their footsteps, following. (24) [Each warner] said, "Even if I brought you better guidance than that [religion] upon which you found your fathers?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers. (25) So we took retribution from them; then see how was the end of the deniers.
(12) The people of Noah denied before them, and the companions of the well and Thamud. (13) And "Aad and Pharaoh and the brothers of Lot. (14) And the companions of the thicket and the people of Tubba". All denied the messengers, so My threat was justly fulfilled.
(5) Has there not come to you the news of those who disbelieved before? So they tasted the bad consequence of their affair, and they will have a painful punishment. (6) That is because their messengers used to come to them with clear evidences, but they said, "Shall human beings guide us?" and disbelieved and turned away. And Allah dispensed [with them]; and Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.
(4) Thamud and "Aad denied the Striking Calamity. (5) So as for Thamud, they were destroyed by the overpowering [blast]. (6) And as for "Aad, they were destroyed by a screaming, violent wind. (7) Which Allah imposed upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so you would see the people therein fallen as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees. (8) Then do you see of them any remains? (9) And there came Pharaoh and those before him and the overturned cities with sin. (10) And they disobeyed the messenger of their Lord, so He seized them with a seizure exceeding [in severity]. (11) Indeed, when the water overflowed, We carried your ancestors in the sailing ship. (12) That We might make it for you a reminder and [that] a conscious ear would be conscious of it.
