And when Abraham said unto his father and his folk: Lo! I am innocent of what ye worship 26 "(I worship) only Him Who made me, and He will certainly guide me." 27 And he uttered this as a word destined to endure among those who would come after him, so that they might [always] 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 When the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic and we have no faith in it". 30 They said, "Why was this Quran not sent down to one of the great men of the two cities?" 31 Is it they who apportion thy Lord's mercy? We have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of the world, and raised some of them above others in rank that some of them may take labour from others; and the mercy of thy Lord is better than (the wealth) that they amass. 32 And were it not that all mankind would have become of one community (all disbelievers, desiring worldly life only), We would have provided for those who disbelieve in the Most Beneficent (Allah), silver roofs for their houses, and elevators (and stair-ways, etc. of silver) whereby they ascend, 33 and (silver) doors to their houses, and couches (of silver) upon which they would recline; 34 And also adornments of gold. But all this were nothing but conveniences of the present life: The Hereafter, in the sight of thy Lord is for the Righteous. 35