Tell them the story of the people of the town to whom Messengers came. 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 knoweth that we are surely unto you the sent ones. 16 "And our duty is only to proclaim the clear Message." 17 They said: Surely we augur evil from you; if you do not desist, we will certainly stone you, and there shall certainly afflict you a painful chastisement from us. 18 They said, "Your omen is with yourselves. Is it because you were reminded? Rather, you are a transgressing people." 19 Then a man came running from the other side of the city. "O my people," he said, "follow the messengers. 20 Follow those who ask no reward of you, and themselves are rightly guided! 21 "Why should I not worship God who has created me? To him you will all return. 22 Should I take other than Him [false] deities [while], if the Most Merciful intends for me some adversity, their intercession will not avail me at all, nor can they save me? 23 In that case I would surely be in clear error. 24 I believe in your Lord, so listen to me." 25 It was said: Enter the garden. He said: O would that my people had known 26 that my Lord has forgiven me, and caused me to be amongst the receivers of generosity' 27 ۞ And We did not send down upon his people after him any soldiers from the heaven, nor would We have done so. 28 It was but one shout, and lo! they were extinct. 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 We destroyed before them, which will not return to them? 31 All of them, gathered together, will certainly be brought before Us. 32