Set forth to them, by way of a parable, the (story of) the Companions of the City. Behold!, there came messengers to it. 13 when We sent unto them two men, but they cried them lies, so We sent a third as reinforcement. They said, 'We are assuredly Envoys unto you. 14 "You are only men like us," they replied; "Ar-Rahman has not sent down any thing. You are speaking only lies." 15 They said: our Lord knoweth that we are surely unto you the sent ones. 16 And we are not responsible except for clear notification." 17 They said: verily we augur ill of you; if ye desist not, we shall surely stone you, and there will befall you from us a torment afflictive. 18 They said: "Your evil omens are with yourselves: (deem ye this an evil omen). If ye are admonished? Nay, but ye are a people transgressing all bounds!" 19 And there came from the farthest end of the city a man, running. He said, "O my people, follow the messengers. 20 Follow those who ask of you no fee, and who are rightly guided. 21 "It would not be reasonable in me if I did not serve Him Who created me, and to Whom ye shall (all) be brought back. 22 Shall I take (other) gods in place of Him when, if the Beneficent should wish me any harm, their intercession will avail me naught, nor can they save? 23 In that case I should indeed be in manifest error. 24 I believe in your Lord, so listen to me." 25 It was said to him, “Enter Paradise”; he said, “If only my people knew!” 26 That my Lord hath forgiven me, and hath made me of the honoured ones. 27 ۞ And We did not send down upon his people after him any soldiers from the heaven, nor would We have done so. 28 nothing was [needed] but one single blast [of Our punishment] - and lo! they became as still and silent as ashes. 29 Alas for human beings! They ridicule every messenger that comes to them. 30 Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them? They shall never return to them, 31 But each one of them all - will be brought before Us (for judgment). 32