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 sent them two messengers, they rejected them both, so We strengthened them with a third. They said, "Truly, we have been sent to you [by God] as messengers." 14 They said, "You are not but human beings like us, and the Most Merciful has not revealed a thing. You are only telling lies." 15 (The messengers) 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 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 him who does not ask you for reward, and they are the followers of the right course; 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 Should I worship other gods besides Him? If the Beneficent God was to afflict me with hardship, the intercession of the idols can be of no benefit to me nor could it rescue me from hardship. 23 Indeed, I would then be in manifest error. 24 Messengers, listen to me. I believe in your Lord." 25 It was said: enter thou the Garden. He said: would that my people knew. 26 Of how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honored." 27 ۞ And We sent not down against his People, after him, any hosts from heaven, nor was it needful for Us so to do. 28 it was but one great blast and they fell down lifeless. 29 OH, THE REGRETS that [most] human beings will have to bear! Never has an apostle come to them without their deriding him! 30 Do they not see how many generations We have destroyed before them? Never shall they return to them. 31 And all of them shall surely be brought before Us. 32