Tell them the story of the people of the town to whom Messengers came. 13 When We sent unto them twain, and they denied them both, so We reinforced them with a third, and they said: Lo! we have been sent unto you. 14 The people said, "You are mere mortals like us and the Beneficent God has sent nothing. You are only liars." 15 They said: Our Lord knows that we are most surely apostles to you. 16 and it is only for us to deliver the Manifest Message.' 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 [The apostles] replied: "Your destiny, good or evil, is [bound up] with yourselves! [Does it seem evil to you] if you are told to take [the truth] to heart? Nay, but you are people who have wasted their own selves!" 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 And why should I not serve Him who originated me, and unto whom you shall be returned? 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 Surely in that case I should be in manifest error. 24 Indeed, I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me." 25 It was said (to him when the disbelievers killed him): "Enter Paradise." He said: "Would that my people knew! 26 that my Lord has forgiven me and that He has placed me among the honoured.' 27 ۞ And We did not send down to his nation after him any army from heaven, neither would We send any down. 28 It was but one shout, and lo! they were extinct. 29 Alas for human beings! They ridicule every messenger that comes to them. 30 Behold they not how many We have destroyed before them of the generations! verily unto them they shall not return. 31 And without exception, all of them will be brought forth before Us. 32