Before them We put the people of Pharaoh to the same test. A noble Messenger14 came to them, and said,15 "Deliver to me the servants of Allah.16 I am a trustworthy Messenger to you.17 Do not rebel against Allah: I present before you a clear authority18 (of my appointment), and I have taken refuge in my Lord and your Lord lest you should assault me. If you do not believe in me, do not harm me."19 At last, he called to his Lord, saying, "These are criminals."20 (The reply came:) "Set forth with My servants by night21 for you will be pursued.22 Leave the sea as it is. The whole host shall be drowned."23 How many were the gardens and fountains and cornfields and grand palaces that they left behind, and how many means of luxury and comfort, which they used to enjoy! This was their end, and We made others to inherit those things.24 Then neither did the heaven weep on them nor the earth,25 and they were not given the least respite. Even so We delivered the children of Israel from an abasing scourge, from Pharaoh,26 who was indeed a most prominent man among the transgressors,27 and We exalted them, knowing them to be so, above the other nations of the world,28 and showed them such Signs as were clearly a trial (for them).29 These people say, "There is nothing beyond our first death, and we are not going to be raised back to life.30 Bring back our forefathers if you are truthful."31 Are they better or the people of Tubba'32 and those before them? We destroyed them only because they had become wicked.33 We have not created the heavens and the earth and whatever lies between them merely in sport: We have created them with the truth, but most of them do not know.34 For the resurrection of them all, the appointed time is the Day of Decision,35 the Day when a kinsman shall not avail his kinsman36 anything at all, nor shall they receive any help from anywhere except that Allah Himself may show His mercy to some one: He is the All-Mighty, the All-Merciful.37