And propound thou unto them the similitude of the inhabitants of a town, when there came thereto the sent ones. 13 Lo! We sent unto them two [apostles,] and they gave the lie to both; and so We strengthened [the two] with a third; and thereupon they said: "Behold, we have been sent unto you [by God]!" 14 They said: Ye are but mortals like unto us. The Beneficent hath naught revealed. Ye do but lie! 15 They said: 'Our Lord knows that we are Messengers to you. 16 And we are not responsible except for clear notification." 17 (The people of the city) said: We augur ill of you. If ye desist not, we shall surely stone you, and grievous torture will befall you at our hands. 18 [The apostles] replied: "Your destiny, good or evil, is [bound up] with yourselves! [Does it seem evil to you] if you are told to take [the truth] to heart? Nay, but you are people who have wasted their own selves!" 19 Then, from the furthest part of the city, a man came running. He said, "My people, follow the messengers. 20 follow those who ask no wage of you and are rightly guided. 21 And why should I not worship He who created me and to whom you will be returned? 22 “What! Shall I appoint Gods other than Allah? So that if the Most Gracious should wish me any harm, their intercession would be of no use to me, nor would they be able to save me?” 23 In that case I shall most surely be in clear error: 24 Verily I believe now in your Lord; so hearken unto me. 25 It was said, "Enter Paradise." He said, "I wish my people could know 26 That my Lord hath forgiven me, and hath made me of the honoured ones. 27 ۞ And We sent not against his people after him a host from heaven, nor have We been sending down any such. 28 It was no more than a single mighty Blast, and behold! they were (like ashes) quenched and silent. 29 Ah the misery of the bondmen! there cometh not unto them an apostle, but him they have been mocking. 30 Have they not seen how many generations, living before them, had We destroyed and they cannot ever come back to them? 31 and [that] all of them, all together, will [in the end] before Us be arraigned? 32