And when it was said: If the people of the thicket had well-built houses, they would have prevented them from the punishment; those who are on another path from their trade to the Levant were inclined towards them. They had long been deceived by hope until they took the mountains as houses. Their sign was in utmost clarity; yet they denied it. This is to confirm that the obstinate, if they saw every sign, would say that our eyes have been blinded. So it was said: 'And certainly they denied.' And since the context is for the deniers; and what happened to them due to their denial; the subject was presented first. So it was said - indicating the perfection of their houses -: 'The people of the stone' - and they are Thamud, the people of Salih - blessings and peace be upon him - and their dwellings are between the noble city and the Levant. 'The messengers' means: all of them; by denying their messenger; just as these deniers denied your message; because the messengers bear witness to one another in truth. Whoever denies one of them has certainly denied all of them; and they are equal in proving the message through the miracle.