۞ And set forth to them a parable of two men; for one of them We made two gardens of grape vines, and We surrounded them both with palms, and in the midst of them We made cornfields. 32 and a stream flowing through the middle of the gardens. 33 (Abundant) was the produce this man had: he said to his companion, in the course of a mutual argument: "more wealth have I than you, and more honour and power in (my following of) men." 34 And he walked into his garden, and, (forgetting) his limit, said: "I cannot imagine that this will ever be ruined, 35 Nor do I think that the Hour will come. Even if I returned to my Lord, I should surely find a better place than this' 36 Said his fellow, as he was conversing with him, 'What, disbelievest thou in Him who created thee of dust, then of a sperm-drop, then shaped thee as a man? 37 But as for me, He, Allah, is my Lord, and I do not associate anyone with my Lord. 38 When you entered your vineyard, why did you not say: 'Whatever Allah wills shall come to pass, for there is no power save with Allah!' If you find me less than yourself in wealth and children 39 Then maybe my Lord will give me what is better than your garden, and send on it a thunderbolt from heaven so that it shall become even ground without plant, 40 Or some morning the water thereof will be lost in the earth so that thou canst not make search for it. 41 So his fruits were encircled (with ruin). And he remained clapping his hands with sorrow over what he had spent upon it, while it was all destroyed on its trellises, he could only say: "Would I had ascribed no partners to my Lord!" [Tafsir Ibn Kathir] 42 for now he had nought to succour him in God's stead, nor could he succour 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