It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the people of Makkah demanded from the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he turn the mountain of Safa into gold for them and remove the mountains from them so that (the land would become level and) they could do farming. It was said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): If you wish, grant them respite, and if you wish, fulfill their demand, but if after their demand is fulfilled they still disbelieve, then I will destroy them as I destroyed the people before them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: No, I grant them respite. So Allah the Exalted revealed this verse: {وَمَا مَنَعَنَآ اَنْ نُّرْسِلَ بِالْاٰیٰتِ اِلَّآ اَنْ کَذَّبَ بِہَا الْاَوَّلُوْنَ وَاٰتَیْنَا ثَمُوْدَ النَّاقَۃَ مُبْصِرَۃً فَظَلَمُوْا بِہَا وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِالْاٰیٰتِ اِلَّا تَخْوِیْفًا۔} … And nothing has prevented Us from sending signs except that the former peoples denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel as a clear sign, but they wronged her. And We do not send the signs except as a warning.