Recite to them, as a case in point, the story of the people of the town when the Messengers came to them. 13 We sent to them two, but they belied them so We reinforced them with a third. They said: 'We have surely been sent as Messengers to you' 14 They said: You are naught but mortals like ourselves, nor has the Beneficent Allah revealed anything; you only lie. 15 Said [the apostles]: "Our Sustainer knows that we have indeed been sent unto you; 16 and it is only for us to deliver the Manifest Message.' 17 They said, 'We augur ill of you. If you give not over, we will stone you and there shall visit you from us a painful chastisement.' 18 They said: Your evil fortune is with you; what! if you are reminded! Nay, you are an extravagant people. 19 And from the remote part of the city there came a man running, he said: O my people! follow the apostles; 20 Follow those who ask no reward of you, and themselves are rightly guided! 21 And why should I not worship He who created me and to whom you will be returned? 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 In that case I should indeed be in manifest error. 24 "For me, I have faith in the Lord of you (all): listen, then, to me!" 25 It was said (to him): 'Enter Paradise' and he said: 'Would that my people knew 26 for what reason Allah has forgiven me and placed me among the honoured ones.” 27 ۞ We did not send an army against his people from the heaven after his death nor did We need to send one. 28 It was naught but a single cry, and lo! they were still. 29 OH, THE REGRETS that [most] human beings will have to bear! Never has an apostle come to them without their deriding him! 30 Have they not seen how many nations before them did We destroy? Thereafter they never came back to them. 31 They shall every one of them be arraigned before Us. 32