When Abraham said to his father and his people, "I boldly renounce what you worship 26 Other than Him who created me. He will show me the right way." 27 And he made it a word lasting among his posterity that haply they should return. 28 Nay, but I let these and their fathers enjoy life (only) till there should come unto them the Truth and a messenger making plain. 29 Yet when the truth had come to them, they said: "This is sorcery. We shall never believe in it." 30 And they say: "Why is not this Quran sent down to some great man of the two towns (Makkah and Ta'if)?" 31 Shall they apportion their Lord's mercy? It is We Who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of the world, and raised some of them over others in degrees, so that one of them may take another as a serf; and the mercy of thy Lord is better than that which they amass. 32 And were it not that mankind would have become one community, We might well have appointed, for those who disbelieve in the Beneficent, roofs of silver for their houses and stairs (of silver) whereby to mount, 33 And the doors of their houses and the couches on which they recline, 34 and gold [beyond count]. Yet all this would have been nothing but a [brief] enjoyment of life in this world - whereas [happiness in] the life to come awaits the God-conscious with thy Sustainer. 35