When Abraham said to his father and his people, "I boldly renounce what you worship 26 except Him who originated me; and He will 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 Aye! I let these and their fathers enjoy life, until there hath come unto them the truth and an apostle manifest. 29 When the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic and we have no faith in it". 30 And they say: wherefore hath not this Qur'an been revealed to a man of the two cities who was great. 31 Is it they who apportion the mercy of your Lord? It is We who distribute among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and raise some of them above others in rank, so that they may take one another into service; and the mercy of your Lord is better than [the wealth] which they 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 doors for their houses, couches on which to recline, 34 and ornaments of gold. But all of these are but the provision of this present life; it is the life to come that the Lord reserves for those who fear Him. 35