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 twain, and they denied them both, so We reinforced them with a third, and they said: Lo! we have been sent 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 knows that we are most surely apostles to you. 16 and it is only for us to deliver the Manifest Message.' 17 Said [the others]: "Truly, we augur evil from you! Indeed, if you desist not, we will surely stone you, and grievous suffering is bound to befall you at our hands!" 18 They said: your evil augury be with you. Call ye it an ill-luck because ye are admonished! Aye! ye are a people extravagant. 19 And from the outermost part of the city came a man running; he said, “O my people! Obey those who have been sent.” 20 Follow those who ask no recompense of you and 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 Should I worship other gods besides Him? If the Beneficent God was to afflict me with hardship, the intercession of the idols can be of no benefit to me nor could it rescue me from hardship. 23 “Undoubtedly, I am then in open error.” 24 “Indeed I have believed in your Lord, so heed me.” 25 We said to him, "Enter paradise," and he exclaimed: "Would that my people knew 26 That my Lord hath forgiven me, and hath made me of the honoured ones. 27 ۞ And after that, no host out of heaven did We send down against his people, nor did We need to send down any: 28 It was only one Cry and lo, they were silent and still. 29 Ah the misery of the bondmen! there cometh not unto them an apostle, but him they have been mocking. 30 What, have they not seen how many generations We have destroyed before them, and that it is not unto them that they return? 31 All of them, gathered together, will certainly be brought before Us. 32