And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said to his father and his people: "Verily, I am innocent of what you worship, 26 [I worship] only Him who created me, and He will certainly guide me," 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 But when the truth came to them, they said: 'This is sorcery, we disbelieve in it' 30 They also said: 'Why was this Koran not sent down to a great man from the two Villages' 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 And were it not that all people had been a single nation, We would certainly have assigned to those who disbelieve in the Beneficent Allah (to make) of silver the roofs of their houses and the stairs by which they ascend. 33 doors for their houses, couches on which to 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