إِذ جاءَتهُمُ الرُّسُلُ مِن بَينِ أَيديهِم وَمِن خَلفِهِم أَلّا تَعبُدوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۖ قالوا لَو شاءَ رَبُّنا لَأَنزَلَ مَلائِكَةً فَإِنّا بِما أُرسِلتُم بِهِ كافِرونَ

When the messengers came to them, from in front and behind, saying, “Worship none but God,” they responded, “If our Lord had willed, He would’ve sent down angels. Therefore, we disbelieve in your message.”

فَأَمّا عادٌ فَاستَكبَروا فِي الأَرضِ بِغَيرِ الحَقِّ وَقالوا مَن أَشَدُّ مِنّا قُوَّةً ۖ أَوَلَم يَرَوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ الَّذي خَلَقَهُم هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنهُم قُوَّةً ۖ وَكانوا بِآياتِنا يَجحَدونَ

As for Aad, they were arrogant on earth, denied the truth, and said, “Who is mightier than us?” Didn’t they see that God, who created them, is mightier than them? And they continued to deny Our revelations.

فَأَرسَلنا عَلَيهِم ريحًا صَرصَرًا في أَيّامٍ نَحِساتٍ لِنُذيقَهُم عَذابَ الخِزيِ فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۖ وَلَعَذابُ الآخِرَةِ أَخزىٰ ۖ وَهُم لا يُنصَرونَ

So We unleashed upon them a roaring wind, for a few unfortunate days, to make them taste the disgraceful punishment in this worldly life. However, the punishment of the Hereafter is more shameful, and they won’t be helped.

وَأَمّا ثَمودُ فَهَدَيناهُم فَاستَحَبُّوا العَمىٰ عَلَى الهُدىٰ فَأَخَذَتهُم صاعِقَةُ العَذابِ الهونِ بِما كانوا يَكسِبونَ

As for Thamud, We offered them guidance, but they preferred blindness over guidance. Thus, the thunderbolt of a humiliating punishment seized them for their deeds.

وَنَجَّينَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَكانوا يَتَّقونَ

And We saved those who believed and were righteous.

حَتّىٰ إِذا ما جاءوها شَهِدَ عَلَيهِم سَمعُهُم وَأَبصارُهُم وَجُلودُهُم بِما كانوا يَعمَلونَ

When they reach it, their hearing, their eyes, and their skin will testify against them regarding what they used to do.

وَقالوا لِجُلودِهِم لِمَ شَهِدتُم عَلَينا ۖ قالوا أَنطَقَنَا اللَّهُ الَّذي أَنطَقَ كُلَّ شَيءٍ وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُم أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَإِلَيهِ تُرجَعونَ

They will ask their skins, “Why did you testify against us?” They will reply, “God, who gave everything the ability to speak, made us speak. He who first created you, and to Him, you will return.

وَما كُنتُم تَستَتِرونَ أَن يَشهَدَ عَلَيكُم سَمعُكُم وَلا أَبصارُكُم وَلا جُلودُكُم وَلـٰكِن ظَنَنتُم أَنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَعلَمُ كَثيرًا مِمّا تَعمَلونَ

You could not shield yourselves from your hearing, sight, and skins testifying against you. And you thought that God didn’t know much of what you do.

وَذٰلِكُم ظَنُّكُمُ الَّذي ظَنَنتُم بِرَبِّكُم أَرداكُم فَأَصبَحتُم مِنَ الخاسِرينَ

Your misconception about your Lord caused your ruin, and now you are among the losers.

فَإِن يَصبِروا فَالنّارُ مَثوًى لَهُم ۖ وَإِن يَستَعتِبوا فَما هُم مِنَ المُعتَبينَ

If they endure patiently, the Fire is their destination. If they try to justify themselves, they won’t be pardoned.