And propound thou unto them the similitude of the inhabitants of a town, when there came thereto the sent ones. 13 We sent them two Messengers whom they rejected. We supported them by sending a third one who told the people, "We are the Messengers (of God) who have been sent to you". 14 They said: ye are but human beings like ourselves; the Compassionate hath not sent down aught; ye are only lying. 15 They said, 'Our Lord knows we are Envoys unto you; 16 who have been sent to you. Our only duty is to preach clearly to you". 17 (The people of the city) said: We augur ill of you. If ye desist not, we shall surely stone you, and grievous torture will befall you at our hands. 18 They said: Your evil augury be with you! Is it because ye are reminded (of the truth)? Nay, but ye are froward folk! 19 Then a man came running from the other side of the city. "O my people," he said, "follow the messengers. 20 Follow him who does not ask you for reward, and they are the followers of the right course; 21 "[As for me,] why should I not worship Him who has brought me into being, and to whom you all will be brought back? 22 What, shall I take, other than Him, gods whose intercession, if the Merciful desires to afflict me, cannot help me at all, and they will never save me? 23 (Had I worshipped things besides God, I would have been in manifest error). 24 Indeed, I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me." 25 It was said to him, “Enter Paradise”; he said, “If only my people knew!” 26 “The manner in which my Lord has pardoned me and made me of the honoured ones!” 27 ۞ And We sent not down upon his people, after him, any host out of heaven; neither would We send any down. 28 it was but one great blast and they fell down lifeless. 29 Alas for men! No apostle ever came to them but they made fun of him. 30 Behold they not how many We have destroyed before them of the generations! verily unto them they shall not return. 31 And indeed, all of them will yet be brought present before Us. 32