Similarly, whenever We sent a warner to a society before you ˹O Prophet˺, its ˹spoiled˺ elite would say, “We found our forefathers following a ˹particular˺ way, and we are walking in their footsteps.”
43:23
Each ˹warner˺ asked, “Even if what I brought you is better guidance than what you found your forefathers practicing?” They replied, “We totally reject whatever you have been sent with.”
43:24
So We inflicted punishment upon them. See then what was the fate of the deniers!
43:25
˹Remember, O Prophet˺ when Abraham declared to his father and his people, “I am totally free of whatever ˹gods˺ you worship,
43:26
except the One Who originated me, and He will surely guide me.”
43:27
And he left this enduring declaration among his descendants, so they may ˹always˺ turn back ˹to Allah˺.1
43:28
In fact, I had allowed enjoyment for these ˹Meccans˺ and their forefathers, until the truth came to them along with a messenger making things clear.
43:29
˹But˺ when the truth came to them, they said, “This is magic, and we totally reject it.”
43:30
And they exclaimed, “If only this Quran was revealed to a great man from ˹one of˺ the two cities!”1
43:31
Is it they who distribute your Lord’s mercy? We ˹alone˺ have distributed their ˹very˺ livelihood among them in this worldly life and raised some of them in rank above others so that some may employ others in service. ˹But˺ your Lord’s mercy is far better than whatever ˹wealth˺ they amass.
43:32
Were it not that people might ˹be tempted to˺ become one community ˹of disbelievers˺, We would have supplied the homes of ˹only˺ those who disbelieve in the Most Compassionate with silver roofs and ˹silver˺ stairways to ascend,
43:33