ما أَنتَ إِلّا بَشَرٌ مِثلُنا فَأتِ بِآيَةٍ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصّادِقينَ

You are just a human like us; so bring a sign, if you are truthful.”

قالَ هـٰذِهِ ناقَةٌ لَها شِربٌ وَلَكُم شِربُ يَومٍ مَعلومٍ

He said, “This is a she-camel. She has her turn of drinking, and you have yours—each on a known day.

وَلا تَمَسّوها بِسوءٍ فَيَأخُذَكُم عَذابُ يَومٍ عَظيمٍ

And don’t harm her, lest you be overtaken by the punishment of a terrible day.”

فَعَقَروها فَأَصبَحوا نادِمينَ

However, they hamstrung her, and then became regretful.

فَأَخَذَهُمُ العَذابُ ۗ إِنَّ في ذٰلِكَ لَآيَةً ۖ وَما كانَ أَكثَرُهُم مُؤمِنينَ

So, the punishment seized them. There is a lesson in this, but most of them aren’t believers.

كَذَّبَت قَومُ لوطٍ المُرسَلينَ

The people of Lot denied the messengers.

إِذ قالَ لَهُم أَخوهُم لوطٌ أَلا تَتَّقونَ

When their brother Lot exhorted them, “Won’t you behave righteously?

إِنّي لَكُم رَسولٌ أَمينٌ

I am a credible messenger to you.

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطيعونِ

So fear God, and obey me.

وَما أَسأَلُكُم عَلَيهِ مِن أَجرٍ ۖ إِن أَجرِيَ إِلّا عَلىٰ رَبِّ العالَمينَ

I ask no reward from you; my reward is only from the Lord of the realms.