۞ And strike for them a similitude: two men. To one of them We assigned two gardens of vines, and surrounded them with palm-trees, and between them We set 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 And he had fruit; he therefore said to his companion – and he used to debate with him – “I exceed you in wealth, and am more powerful in respect of men.” 34 And he went into his garden while in a state (of pride and disbelief) unjust to himself. He said: "I think not that this will ever perish. 35 And neither do I think that the Last Hour will ever come. But even if [it should come, and] I am brought before my Sustainer, I will surely find something even better than this as [my last] resort!" 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 as for myself, [I know that] He is God, my Sustainer; and I cannot attribute divine powers to any but my Sustainer." 38 And [he continued:] "Alas, if thou hadst but said, on entering thy garden, 'Whatever God wills [shall come to pass, for] there is no power save with God!' Although, as thou seest, I have less wealth and offspring than thou, 39 yet it may well be that my Sustainer will give me something better than thy garden - just as He may let loose a calamity out of heaven upon this [thy garden,] so that it becomes a heap of barren dust 40 or cause the streams in your garden to disappear under the ground such that you will never be able to find them. 41 And [thus it happened:] his fruitful gardens were encompassed [by ruin,] and there he was, wringing his hands over all that he had spent on that which now lay waste, with its trellises caved in; and he could but say: "Oh, would that I had not attributed divine powers to any but my Sustainer!" 42 And he had no troop of men to help him as against Allah, nor could he save himself. 43 In such helplessness, the human being realizes that it is God who is the true Guardian and His rewards and recompense are the best. 44