﴿ إِذْ جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلرُّسُلُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّنَا لَأَنزَلَ مَلَٰٓئِكَةًۭ فَإِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ كَٰفِرُونَ ﴾

“Lo! There came unto them [God’s] apostles, speaking of what lay open before them and what was [still] beyond their ken, [and calling unto them,] “Worship none but God!” They answered: “If our Sustainer had willed [us to believe in what you say], He would have sent down angels [as His message-bearers]. As it is, behold, we deny that there is any truth in what you [claim to] have been sent with!””

When their messengers came unto them from before them) before 'Aad and Thamud to their respective people (and behind them) and after them messenger were sent to their folks, (saying: Worship none) do not declare the divine Oneness of anyone (but Allah! They said) each folk said to their messenger: (If our Lord had willed) to send us a messenger, (He surely would have sent down angels (unto us)) from the angels He has with Him, (so lo! we are disbelievers in that wherewith ye have been sent) We reject that with which you have been sent, you are but a human being like us.