Tell them the story of the people of the town to whom Messengers came. 13 Lo! We sent unto them two [apostles,] and they gave the lie to both; and so We strengthened [the two] with a third; and thereupon they said: "Behold, we have been sent unto you [by God]!" 14 They said: ye are but human beings like ourselves; the Compassionate hath not sent down aught; ye are only lying. 15 The Messengers said: “Our Lord knows that we have indeed been sent to you 16 and it is only for us to deliver the Manifest Message.' 17 They said: verily we augur ill of you; if ye desist not, we shall surely stone you, and there will befall you from us a torment afflictive. 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 And there came from the farthest end of the city a man, running. He said, "O my people, follow the messengers. 20 Follow those who do not ask of you [any] payment, and they are [rightly] guided. 21 Why should I not serve the One Who created me and to Whom all of you shall be sent back? 22 “What! Shall I appoint Gods other than Allah? So that if the Most Gracious should wish me any harm, their intercession would be of no use to me, nor would they be able to save me?” 23 In that case I would surely be in clear error. 24 Lo! I have believed in your Lord, so hear me! 25 It was said to him, “Enter Paradise”; he said, “If only my people knew!” 26 "For that my Lord has granted me Forgiveness and has enrolled me among those held in honour!" 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 nothing was [needed] but one single blast [of Our punishment] - and lo! they became as still and silent as ashes. 29 Alas for men! No apostle ever came to them but they made fun of him. 30 See they not how many generations before them we destroyed? Not to them will they return: 31 and [that] all of them, all together, will [in the end] before Us be arraigned? 32