Appendix B: Fate of some Nations who denied their Messengers
    Surah Qamar depicts in the following words the fate of some nations who deliberately rejected their Messengers:
 

[Similarly], before them the folks of Noah [rejected their Prophet] by declaring Our servant to be a liar and said that he was a mad man, and he was badly scolded [by them]. At last he cried unto his Lord saying: I am vanquished, Take revenge from them. So We opened the gates of heaven with water pouring forth, and caused the earth to burst with gushing springs. The waters met at the point decreed and We carried him [---Our servant Noah] on a vessel made of planks and nails, which sailed under Our protection: a recompense for him who had been snubbed. And We made this tale a sign [for those who would learn a lesson from it]. So is there anyone who would take heed [from this]! [You heard this tale!]. Tell Me how [dreadful] was My punishment, how [stern] was My warning? [Will you also receive admonition like this?]. And, [indeed], We have made the Qur’an very appropriate for admonition. Is there any who shall take heed?!! (54:9-17)

[Similarly], the people of Ad rejected the warnings. Then observe how dreadful was My punishment and how My promised doom [got hold of them]! On a day of unremitting woe, We had let loose on them a howling wind which plucked out the people [of Ad from their places] as if they were uprooted trunks of palm-trees. So tell Me how [dreadful] was My punishment and how [stern] was My warning. [Will you also receive admonition like this?]. And We have made the Qur’an very appropriate for admonition. Is there anyone who shall take heed?!! (54:18-22)

The Thamud also rejected this warning by saying: Are we to follow a person who stands alone amongst us? If we do so, we shall, [in fact], be straying [from the right path] and [would eventually] find ourselves [in the raging fire of] Hell. Did he alone among us receive this Reminder? Nay, he is indeed a liar, a boaster. [We said:] tomorrow they shall know who is the liar and [who is] the boaster. We will be sending a she-camel as a test for them. So wait and see and have patience, and inform them that the water is to be shared between [her and] them. [Now] everyone shall come on his turn. At this, they cried out to their leader; so he came forward and hamstrung her. So observe how My punishment descended upon them and how My promised doom got hold of them. We sent upon them a single shout and they became [crushed powder] like the trampled hedge of a sheep-fold builder. [Will you now also receive admonition like this?]. And We have made the Qur’an very appropriate for admonition. Is there anyone who shall take heed?!! (54:23-32)

[Similarly,] the people of Lot rejected this warning. [As recompense for this crime], We unleashed on them a stone-charged whirlwind; only the followers of Lot survived, whom, as a special favour, We evacuated [from that place] before the advent of dawn. Thus do We reward every person who is thankful. And, indeed, Lot had warned them of Our punishment, but they only foolishly argued [with him about Our] warnings. And they tempted him to hand over his guests to them [for a wanton purpose]; so We blinded their eyes [and said] taste you My wrath and [the terrible consequences of] My warning. And, indeed, at daybreak, an abiding punishment seized them. [So now] taste My wrath and [the terrible consequences of] My warning. [Will these people also receive admonition after tasting My punishment]! And We have made the Qur’an very appropriate for admonition. Is there anyone who shall take heed?!! (54:33-41)

And, indeed, to the Pharaoh’s people also came the warnings. But [in a similar manner], they also rejected all Our signs; so We grasped them with the grasp of One Mighty, Powerful. (54:42-3)