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When-ever We sent a messenger before you to warn a township, those corrupted by wealth said, in the same way, ‘We saw our fathers following this tradition; we are only following in their footsteps.’

The messenger said, ‘Even though I bring you a truer religion than what you saw your fathers following?’ and they replied, ‘But we do not believe the message you bring.’

We punished them: think about how those who rejected the Truth met their end.

Abraham said to his father and his people, ‘I renounce what you worship.

I worship only Him who created me, and it is He who will guide me,’

and he bequeathed these words to his descendants so that they might return [to God].

I have let these people and their fathers enjoy long lives, and now I have given them the Truth and a messenger to make things clear-

yet when the Truth came to them, they said, ‘This is sorcery. We do not believe in it,’

and they said, ‘Why was this Quran not sent down to a distinguished man, from either of the two cities?’

Are they the ones who share out your Lord’s grace? We are the ones who give them their share of livelihood in this world and We have raised some of them above others in rank, so that some may take others into service: your Lord’s grace is better than anything they accumulate.

If it were not that all mankind might have become a single nation [of disbelievers], We could have given all those who disbelieve in the Lord of Mercy houses with roofs of silver, sweeping staircases to ascend,