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 They said, "You are not but human beings like us, and the Most Merciful has not revealed a thing. You are only telling lies." 15 They said: "Our Lord doth know that we have been sent on a mission to you: 16 And our duty is but plain conveyance (of the message). 17 They rejoined: "We feel you augur ill. If you do not desist, we shall stone you to death, and inflict a grievous punishment on you." 18 They said: your evil augury be with you. Call ye it an ill-luck because ye are admonished! Aye! ye are a people extravagant. 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 do not ask you for any reward and who are rightly guided. 21 Why should I not worship Him who brought me into being, to whom you will be brought back in the end? 22 "Shall I take besides Him aliha (gods), if the Most Beneficent (Allah) intends me any harm, their intercession will be of no use for me whatsoever, nor can they save me? 23 In that case I would surely be in clear error. 24 Verily! I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me!" 25 It was said: enter thou the Garden. He said: would that my people knew. 26 How my Lord has forgiven me and made me one of those who are honoured!" 27 ۞ We did not send down any army against his people from heaven, nor did We have to send one. 28 It was naught but a single cry, and lo! they were still. 29 Alas for men! No apostle ever came to them but they made fun of him. 30 Do they not consider how many of the generations have We destroyed before them, because they do not turn to them? 31 And all of them shall surely be brought before Us. 32