Many of the Quran’s stories of messengers and prophets follow a similar pattern. This passage (vv. 9–14) sets out the pattern handily by collectively describing the response of ‘Ād, Thamūd, and the people of Noah to the preaching of their messengers. Here the messengers bring their peoples a message, but the people will not receive it (v. 9). This initiates an encounter in which the messengers attempt to persuade the people but the people still resist the message (vv. 10–12). Finally the people prepare to physically harm the messengers (v. 13a). At this point, however, the Lord destroys the resisting people and saves and prospers the messengers (vv. 13b–14).

This verse seems to say that no one but Allah knows these stories. This may be the case for stories of messengers to ‘Ād and Thamūd, but the Bible contains a great deal of information about prophets that is not found in the Quran. On ‘Ād and Thamūd, see the explanations at 7.65 and 7.73.