And present to them an example: the people of the city, when the messengers came to it - 13 When We had sent two towards them and they denied them both, so We fortified them with a third, and they all said, “Indeed we have been sent to 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 indeed been sent to you 16 Our duty is to convey the message clearly." 17 but they answered, "We see an evil omen in you. If you do not stop, we shall certainly stone you, and you will suffer a painful punishment at our hands." 18 (The messengers) said: "The augury is within your own selves. Do you (consider it a bad omen) that you should be warned? You are a people guilty of excess." 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 do not ask any recompense from you and are rightly-guided. 21 And what reason have I that I should not serve Him Who brought me into existence? And to Him you shall be brought back; 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 shall most surely be in clear error: 24 Verily I believe now in your Lord; so hearken unto me. 25 It was said, 'Enter Paradise!' He said, 'Ah, would that my people had knowledge 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 against his People, after him, any hosts from heaven, nor was it needful for Us so to do. 28 It was only a single blast which made them extinct. 29 Woe, for those (unbelieving) worshipers! They mocked every Messenger that came to them. 30 Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them, which will not return to them? 31 and [that] all of them, all together, will [in the end] before Us be arraigned? 32