And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father and his people, "Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship 26 "(I worship) only Him Who made me, and He will certainly guide me." 27 God made (belief in one God) an everlasting task for his successors, so that perhaps they would return (to Him). 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 Also, they say: "Why is not this Qur'an sent down to some leading man in either of the two (chief) cities?" 31 But is it they who distribute thy Sustainer's grace? [Nay, as] it is We who distribute their means of livelihood among them in the life of this world, and raise some of them by degrees above others, to the end that they might avail themselves of one another's help - [so, too, it is We who bestow gifts of the spirit upon whomever We will]: and this thy Sustainer's grace is better than all [the worldly wealth] that they may amass. 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 And for their houses, doors (of silver), and thrones (of silver) on which they could recline, 34 And ornament of gold. And yet all that would have been but a provision of the life of the world; and the Hereafter with thy Lord is for the Godfearing. 35