And propound thou unto them the similitude of the inhabitants of a town, when there came thereto the sent ones. 13 When We (first) sent to them two messengers, they rejected them: But We strengthened them with a third: they said, "Truly, we have been sent on a mission to you." 14 [The others] answered: "You are nothing but mortal men like ourselves; moreover, the Most Gracious has never bestowed aught [of revelation] from on high. You do nothing but lie!" 15 They said, "Our Lord knows that we have been sent to you. 16 "And our duty is only to convey plainly (the 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 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 came a man from the furthest part of the city, running; he said, 'My people, follow the Envoys! 20 Follow such as ask no wage of you, that are right-guided. 21 “And what is the matter with me that I should not worship Him Who created me, whereas it is towards Him that you are to return?” 22 Should I take other gods apart from Him, who would neither be able to intercede for me nor save me if Ar-Rahman brings me harm? 23 "I would indeed, if I were to do so, be in manifest Error. 24 “Indeed I have believed in your Lord, so heed me.” 25 It was said: Enter the garden. He said: O would that my people had known 26 With what (munificence) my Lord hath pardoned me and made me of the honoured ones! 27 ۞ And We did not send down upon his people after him any hosts from heaven, nor do We ever send down. 28 It was no more than a single mighty Blast, and behold! they were (like ashes) quenched and silent. 29 Ah, the anguish for the bondmen! Never came there unto them a messenger but they did mock him! 30 Do they not consider how many of the generations have We destroyed before them, because they do not turn to them? 31 And indeed, all of them will yet be brought present before Us. 32