9 They wish that thou shouldst be pliant, so they (too) would be pliant.

10 And obey not any mean swearer,

11 Defamer, going about with slander,

12 Hinderer of good, outstepping the limits, sinful,

13 Ignoble, besides all that, notoriously mischievous —

14 Because he possesses wealth and sons.

15 When Our messages are recited to him, he says: Stories of those of yore!

16 We shall brand him on the snout.

17 We shall try them as We tried the owners of the garden, when they swore to pluck its fruits in the morning,

18 And would not set aside a portion (for the poor).

19 But a visitation from thy Lord came on it, while they slept.

20 So it became as black, barren land —

21 Then they called out one to another in the morning,

22 Saying: Go early to your tilth, if you would pluck (the fruit).

23 So they went, while they said one to another in low tones:

24 No poor man shall enter it today upon you.

25 And in the morning they went, having the power to prevent.

26 But when they saw it, they said: Surely we are in error;

27 Nay, we are made to suffer privation.

28 The best of them said: Said I not to you, Why do you not glorify (Allāh)?

29 They said: Glory be to our Lord! surely we were unjust.

30 Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other.

31 Said they: O woe to us! Surely we were inordinate —

32 Maybe, our Lord will give us instead one better than it — surely to our Lord we make petition.

33 Such is the chastisement. And certainly the chastisement of the Hereafter is greater, did they but know!