Set forth to them, by way of a parable, the (story of) the Companions of the City. Behold!, there came messengers to it. 13 When We sent two of them they called them liars; so We sent a third to strengthen them. "We have been sent to you," they said. 14 They said: ye are but human beings like ourselves; the Compassionate hath not sent down aught; ye are only lying. 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 The Messengers said, "This ill omen lies within yourselves. Will you then take heed? In fact, you are a transgressing people." 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 of you [any] payment, and they are [rightly] guided. 21 And what aileth me that I should not worship Him who hath created me, and unto whom ye 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 “Undoubtedly, I am then in open error.” 24 I believe in your Lord, so hear me' 25 It was said: enter thou the Garden. He said: would that my people knew. 26 “The manner in which my Lord has pardoned me and made me of 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 just one scream, and with it they were extinguished. 29 Alas for mankind! There never came a Messenger to them but they used to mock at him. 30 See they not how many generations before them we destroyed? Not to them will they return: 31 All of them shall (one day) be gathered before Us. 32