And propound thou unto them the similitude of the inhabitants of a town, when there came thereto the sent ones. 13 What time We sent unto them two, then they belied the twain, wherefore We strengthened them with a third, and they said: verily we are unto you the sent ones. 14 They said, 'You are naught but mortals like us; the All-merciful has not sent down anything. You are speaking only lies.' 15 They answered, “Our Lord knows that surely, without doubt, we have been sent towards you.” 16 and it is only for us to deliver the Manifest Message.' 17 Said [the others]: "Truly, we augur evil from you! Indeed, if you desist not, we will surely stone you, and grievous suffering is bound to befall you at our hands!" 18 They said: your evil augury be with you. Call ye it an ill-luck because ye are admonished! Aye! ye are a people extravagant. 19 And there came from the uttermost part of the city a man running. He cried: O my people! Follow those who have been sent! 20 Follow those who ask not of you any hire, and who are rightly guided. 21 Why should I not serve the One Who created me and to Whom all of you shall be sent back? 22 Should I take to worshipping [other] deities beside Him? [But then,] if the Most Gracious should will that harm befall me, their intercession could not in the least avail me, nor could they save me: 23 “Undoubtedly, I am then in open error.” 24 I believe in your Lord; so listen to me.” 25 It was said: Enter the garden. He said: O would that my people had known 26 that my Lord has forgiven me, and caused me to be amongst the receivers of generosity' 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 naught but a single cry, and lo! they were still. 29 Ah the misery of the bondmen! there cometh not unto them an apostle, but him they have been mocking. 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