AND SET FORTH unto them a parable - [the story of how] the people of a township [behaved] when [Our] message-bearers came unto 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 said, 'You are naught but mortals like us; the All-merciful has not sent down anything. You are speaking only lies.' 15 (The messengers) said: "Our Lord knows that we have been sent to you. 16 "And our duty is only to proclaim the clear Message." 17 They answered: 'We predict evil of you. If you do not desist, we will stone you and a painful punishment from us will befall you' 18 They (Messengers) said: "Your evil omens be with you! (Do you call it "evil omen") because you are admonished? Nay, but you are a people Musrifun (transgressing all bounds by committing all kinds of great sins, and by disobeying Allah). 19 Then, a man came running from the furthest part of the village 'My nation' he said, 'follow the Messengers, 20 Follow those who do not ask of you [any] payment, and they 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 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 Verily! I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me!" 25 It was said, "Enter Paradise." He said, "I wish my people could know 26 Of that on account of which my Lord has forgiven me and made me of the honored ones! 27 ۞ And We sent not down upon his people, after him, any host out of heaven; neither would We send any down. 28 There was just one blast, and they were extinguished. 29 Woe to human beings! Whenever a Messenger came to them, they mocked him. 30 Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them, which will not return to them? 31 And indeed, all of them will yet be brought present before Us. 32