When Abraham said to his father and his people, "I boldly renounce what you worship 26 Save Him Who did create me, for He will surely guide me. 27 and he left these words to endure among his descendants, so that they might return [to God]. 28 Nay, but I let these and their fathers enjoy life (only) till there should come unto them the Truth and a messenger making plain. 29 Yet when the truth had come to them, they said: "This is sorcery. We shall never believe in it." 30 They also said: "Why was this Qur'an not sent down to some great man of the two cities?" 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 that all mankind would become a single community (and follow the same way), We would have provided for all those who disbelieve in the Merciful One silver roofs for their houses, and (silver) stairs on which to go up, 33 And the doors of their houses and the couches on which they recline, 34 And ornaments of gold. Yet all that would have been but a provision of the life of the world. And the Hereafter with your Lord would have been for those who keep from evil. 35