When Abraham said to his father and his people: "I am rid of what you worship 26 except the One Who created me; and, behold, it is He Who will direct me to the Right Way.” 27 And he made it a word enduring among his posterity; haply so they would 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 And when the truth came to them, they said, 'This is a sorcery, and in it we are unbelievers.' 30 They also said: "Why was this Qur'an not sent down to 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 doors for their houses, couches on which to recline, 34 or that they be made of gold. Surely all this is only the enjoyment of the life of the world. But (true prosperity) in the Hereafter with Your Lord is only for the God-fearing. 35