And propound thou unto them the similitude of the inhabitants of a town, when there came thereto the sent ones. 13 When We sent them two messengers, they rejected them both, so We strengthened them with a third. They said, "Truly, we have been sent to you [by God] as messengers." 14 The people of the town said: “You are only human beings like ourselves, and the Merciful Lord has revealed nothing. You are simply lying.” 15 They answered: Our Lord knoweth that we are indeed sent unto you, 16 and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the 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 [The apostles] replied: "Your destiny, good or evil, is [bound up] with yourselves! [Does it seem evil to you] if you are told to take [the truth] to heart? Nay, but you are people who have wasted their own selves!" 19 Then there came running, from the farthest part of the City, a man, saying, "O my people! Obey the messengers: 20 Follow those who ask no recompense of you and are rightly guided. 21 "And why should I not worship Him (Allah Alone) Who has created me and to Whom you shall be returned. 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 and so, behold, I would have indeed, most obviously, lost myself in error! 24 "Verily, [O my people,] in the Sustainer of you all have I come to believe: listen, then, to me!" 25 It was said (to him when the disbelievers killed him): "Enter Paradise." He said: "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 It was no more than a single mighty Blast, and behold! they were (like ashes) quenched and silent. 29 Alas for the servants! there comes not to them an apostle but they mock at him. 30 Have they not seen how many generations have We destroyed before them who will not return again? 31 All of them shall (one day) be gathered before Us. 32