۞ Give them the parable of two men. To one we gave two gardens of vines and surrounded them with palm trees and in between the two we placed a sown field. 32 Each of those gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein: in the midst of them We caused a river to flow. 33 so the owner had fruit in abundance and he said to his neighbour, while conversing with him: "I have greater wealth than you and I am stronger than you in numbers." 34 And when, having wronged himself, he entered his garden, he said: 'I do not think that this will ever perish! 35 Nor do I believe that the Hour of Resurrection will ever come to pass. And even if I am returned to my Lord, I shall find a better place than this." 36 His friend said to him, "How can you disbelieve in the One who turned clay into sperm out of which He created you? 37 But He is Allah, my Lord, and I ascribe unto my Lord no partner. 38 When you entered your garden, why did you not say, "That which God wills [will surely come to pass], there is no power save with God?" Although you see I have less wealth and offspring than you, 39 my Lord may well give me a garden better than yours and send down thunderbolts from heaven upon your vineyard, turning it into a barren waste; 40 or its water may sink into the earth, so that you will never be able to find it again!" 41 And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone." 42 And he had no troop of men to help him as against Allah, nor could he save himself. 43 For thus it is: all protective power belongs to God alone, the True One. He is the best to grant recompense, and the best to determine what is to be. 44