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 human beings like ourselves; the Compassionate hath not sent down aught; ye are only lying. 15 They said, 'Our Lord knows we are Envoys unto you; 16 And our duty is but plain conveyance (of the 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 fortune is with you; what! if you are reminded! Nay, you are an extravagant people. 19 At that, a man came running from the farthest end of the city, [and] exclaimed: "O my people! Follow these message-bearers! 20 Follow those who ask of you no fee, and who are rightly guided. 21 "Why should I not worship God who has created me? To him you will all return. 22 Should I take to worshipping [other] deities beside Him? [But then,] if the Most Gracious should will that harm befall me, their intercession could not in the least avail me, nor could they save me: 23 In that case I should indeed be in manifest error. 24 Surely I believe in your Lord, therefore hear me. 25 (Eventually they killed him and he was told): “Enter Paradise.” The man exclaimed: “Would that my people knew 26 how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honoured ones!" 27 ۞ And We did not send down to his nation after him any army from heaven, neither would We send any down. 28 There was just one blast, and they were extinguished. 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, which will not return to them? 31 All of them, gathered together, will certainly be brought before Us. 32