24 Preface فَلَمّا رَأَوهُ عارِضًا مُستَقبِلَ أَودِيَتِهِم قالوا هٰذا عارِضٌ مُمطِرُنا ۚ بَل هُوَ مَا استَعجَلتُم بِهِ ۖ ريحٌ فيها عَذابٌ أَليمٌYusuf AliThen, when they saw1 the (Penalty in the shape of) a cloud traversing the sky, coming to meet their valleys, they said, “This cloud will give us rain!” “Nay, it is the (Calamity) ye were asking to be hastened!- A wind wherein is a Grievous Penalty!The Punishment came suddenly, and when they least expected it. They wanted rain, and they saw a cloud and rejoiced. Behold, it was coming towards their own tracts, winding through the hills. Their irrigation channels would be full, their fields would be green, and their season would be fruitful. But no! What is this? It is a tremendous hurricane, carrying destruction on its wings! A violent blast, with dust and sand! Its fury destroys everything in its wake! Lives lost! Fields covered with sandhills! The morning dawns on a scene of desolation! Where were the men who boasted and defied their Lord! There are only the ruins of their houses to witness to the past!