Call to mind when Abraham said to his father and his people: “I totally disown all whom you serve 26 [I worship] only Him who created me, and He will certainly guide me," 27 And he made it a word to continue in his posterity that they may return. 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 But when the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic, and indeed we are, concerning it, disbelievers." 30 And they said, “Why was the Qur’an not sent down upon some chieftain of these two great towns?” (The chiefs of Mecca and Taif). 31 Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate. 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 diverse adornments; and all this is usage only of the life of this world; and the Hereafter with your Lord, is for the pious. 35