Those who rejected Shu‘aib became as if they never dwelt there. Those who rejected Shu‘aib were themselves the losers.

So, he turned away from them and said, “O my people, I have surely delivered to you the message of my Lord, and wished your betterment. How, then, should I grieve over a disbelieving people?”

We did not send any prophet to a town, but We seized its people with hardship and suffering, so that they may turn humble.

Thereafter, We substituted good in place of evil until they increased, and said, “Hardship and prosperity came to our fathers (too).” Then We seized them suddenly while they were not aware.

If the people of the towns believed and feared Allah, We would have opened for them blessings from the heavens and the earth, but they disbelieved. So, We seized them because of what they used to earn for themselves.

So, do the people of the towns feel themselves immune from Our punishment that may befall them at night while they are asleep?

Or do the people of the towns feel themselves immune from Our punishment that may befall them in broad daylight while they are at play?

Do they feel secure from Allah’s plan? None can feel secure from Allah’s plan except the people who are losers.

Have all these events still not taught a lesson to those who inherit the land after its (former) inhabitants, that if We so willed, We could afflict them for their sins? But We seal their hearts, so that they do not listen.

Those are the towns We narrate to you their important events. Surely their messengers came to them with clear signs, but they were not able to believe in what they had rejected earlier. This is how Allah seals the hearts of the disbelievers.

We did not find with most of them any covenant (unbroken), and surely We have found most of them sinners.

After them, We sent Mūsā with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs. But they did injustice to them. So, consider the fate of the mischief-makers.

Mūsā said, “O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of all the worlds;

it befits me not to say anything about Allah except the truth. I have come to you with a clear sign from your Lord. So, let the children of Isrā’īl go with me.”

He said, “If you have come with a sign, then bring it forth, if you are really truthful.”

So he threw down his staff, and in no time it was a vivid serpent;

and he drew out his hand, and it was luminous for the onlookers.

The chiefs of the people of Pharaoh said, “This man is certainly a sorcerer of great knowledge.

He wants to expel you from your land. So, what do you suggest?”

They said, “leave him and his brother alone for a while, and send (your) men to the cities to collect

and bring to you every expert sorcerer (who could defeat him).”

The sorcerers came to Pharaoh. They said, “There must be a reward for us, if we are the victors.”

He said, “Yes, and of course, you will be among the closer ones (to me).”

They said, “O Mūsā, would you throw (first) or are we to throw?”

He said, “You throw.” So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and made them frightened, and produced great sorcery.

We revealed to Mūsā, “Throw your staff.” Then of a sudden, it began to swallow all that they had concocted.