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 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 They said: You are naught but mortals like ourselves, nor has the Beneficent Allah revealed anything; you only lie. 15 They answered: Our Lord knoweth that we are indeed sent unto you, 16 And we are not responsible except for clear notification." 17 The people said, "We have ill omens about you. If you will not desist, we shall stone you and make you suffer a painful torment". 18 They (Messengers) said: "Your evil omens be with you! (Do you call it "evil omen") because you are admonished? Nay, but you are a people Musrifun (transgressing all bounds by committing all kinds of great sins, and by disobeying Allah). 19 Then there came running, from the farthest part of the City, a man, saying, "O my people! Obey the messengers: 20 Follow those who do not ask for any recompense of you, and are rightly guided. 21 Why should I not worship Him who has originated me and to whom you shall all 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 and so, behold, I would have indeed, most obviously, lost myself in error! 24 Verily I believe now in your Lord; so hearken unto me. 25 (But they stoned him to death.) It was said to him: "Enter Paradise;" and he said: "If only my people knew 26 "That my Lord (Allah) has forgiven me, and made me of the honoured ones!" 27 ۞ And We did not send down to his nation after him any army from heaven, neither would We send any down. 28 nothing was [needed] but one single blast [of Our punishment] - and lo! they became as still and silent as ashes. 29 Alas for My servants! Never does a Messenger come to them but they mock him. 30 Do they not see how many of the generations We have destroyed before them? Verily, they will not return to them. 31 But all, without exception, will be brought before Us. 32