And put forward to them a similitude; the (story of the) dwellers of the town, [It is said that the town was Antioch (Antakiya)], when there came Messengers to them. 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 They replied, "You are nothing but mortal men like us and the Merciful God has not revealed anything. You are surely lying." 15 They said, "Our Lord knows that we are messengers to you, 16 and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.” 17 The (people) said: "for us, we augur an evil omen from you: if ye desist not, we will certainly stone you. And a grievous punishment indeed will be inflicted on you by us." 18 They said, “Your evil omens are with you! What! You get annoyed for being advised? In fact you are a people who transgress the limits!” 19 In the meantime a man came running from the far end of the town, saying: “My people, follow the Messengers; 20 follow those who do not ask any recompense from you and are rightly-guided. 21 For what cause should I not serve Him Who hath created me, and unto Whom ye will 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 (Had I worshipped things besides God, I would have been in manifest error). 24 Messengers, listen to me. I believe in your Lord." 25 We said to him, "Enter paradise," and he exclaimed: "Would that my people knew 26 how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among 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 but one Shout, and lo! they were extinct. 29 Alas for human beings! They ridicule every messenger that comes to them. 30 Do they not consider how many of the generations have We destroyed before them, because they do not turn to them? 31 And indeed, all of them will yet be brought present before Us. 32