AND SET FORTH unto them a parable - [the story of how] the people of a township [behaved] when [Our] message-bearers came unto them. 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 They said: Ye are but mortals like unto us. The Beneficent hath naught revealed. Ye do but lie! 15 They said: our Lord knoweth that we are surely unto you the sent ones. 16 And on us is naught but manifest preaching. 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 furthest part of the village 'My nation' he said, 'follow the Messengers, 20 Follow those who ask no recompense of you and are rightly guided. 21 And what reason have I that I should not serve Him Who brought me into existence? And to Him you shall be brought back; 22 Shall I take beside Him gods when, if the Compassionate should intend me any harm, their intercession will avail me not at all, nor would they save me? 23 Then truly I should be in error manifest. 24 Verily! 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 (Allah) has forgiven me, and made me of the honoured ones!" 27 ۞ And We did not send down upon his people after him any soldiers from the heaven, nor would We have done so. 28 It was no more than a single mighty Blast, and behold! they were (like ashes) quenched and silent. 29 Alas for the servants! there comes not to them an apostle but they mock at him. 30 Have they not seen how many generations, living before them, had We destroyed and they cannot ever come back to them? 31 All of them shall (one day) be gathered before Us. 32