And when Abraham said to his father and his people, 'Surely I am quit of that you serve, 26 Save Him Who hath created me, and then He would guide me. 27 And Abraham left behind this word to endure among his posterity so that they may return to it. 28 Now [as for those who did come after him,] I allowed them - as [I had allowed] their forebears - to enjoy their lives freely until the truth should come unto them through an apostle who would make all things clear: 29 And when the truth came to them they said, “This is magic, and we disbelieve in it.” 30 And they say, too, "Why was not this Qur'an bestowed from on high on some great man of the two cities?" 31 Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate. 32 Were it not for the fear that all people would become one in disbelief, We would have made for the disbelievers in the Beneficent God ceilings out of silver and ladders by which they would climb up, 33 doors for their houses, couches on which to recline, 34 And gold ornament. But all that is not but the enjoyment of worldly life. And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous. 35