When Abraham said to his father and his people: "I am rid of what you worship 26 Save Him Who did create me, for He will surely 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 Nay! I gave them and their fathers to enjoy until there came to them the truth and an Apostle making manifest (the truth). 29 But when the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic, and indeed we are, concerning it, disbelievers." 30 And they say, too, "Why was not this Qur'an bestowed from on high on some great man of the two cities?" 31 What, is it they who divide the Mercy of your Lord! (It is) We who divided between them their livelihoods in this life, raising some in rank above others, so that some may take the other into his service. Your Lord's Mercy is better than all they gather. 32 And if it were not that the people would become one community [of disbelievers], We would have made for those who disbelieve in the Most Merciful - for their houses - ceilings and stairways of silver upon which to mount 33 and doors to their houses, and couches whereon to 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