Recite to them, as a case in point, the story of the people of the town when the Messengers came to them. 13 When We sent to them two but they denied them, so We strengthened them with a third, and they said, "Indeed, we are messengers to you." 14 "You are only men like us," they replied; "Ar-Rahman has not sent down any thing. You are speaking only lies." 15 They said: our Lord knoweth that we are surely unto you the sent ones. 16 "And our duty is only to convey plainly (the Message)." 17 They said, 'We augur ill of you. If you give not over, we will stone you and there shall visit you from us a painful chastisement.' 18 They said: Your evil fortune is with you; what! if you are reminded! Nay, you are an extravagant people. 19 At that, a man came running from the farthest end of the city, [and] exclaimed: "O my people! Follow these message-bearers! 20 follow those who do not ask any recompense from you and are rightly-guided. 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 besides Him gods whose intercession, If the Beneficent Allah should desire to afflict me with a harm, shall not avail me aught, nor shall they be able to deliver me? 23 In that case I should indeed be in manifest error. 24 Verily I believe now in your Lord; so hearken unto me. 25 We said to him, "Enter paradise," and he exclaimed: "Would that my people knew 26 Of that on account of which my Lord has forgiven me and made me of the honored 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 the servants! there comes not to them an apostle but they mock at him. 30 See they not how many generations before them we destroyed? Not to them will they return: 31 They will all be brought together before Us. 32