۞ (O Muhammad), propound a parable to them. There were two men of whom We bestowed upon one of the two vineyards, surrounding both of them with date-palms and putting a tillage in between. 32 Both these gardens yielded their fruits, and failed not aught thereof, and We caused a river to gush forth in their midst, 33 And so [the man] had fruit in abundance. And [one day] he said to his friend, bandying words with him, "More wealth have I than thou, and mightier am I as regards [the number and power of my] followers!" 34 And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself. He said, "I do not think that this will perish - ever. 35 "Nor do I deem that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) come: Even if I am brought back to my Lord, I shall surely find (there) something better in exchange." 36 His comrade, when he (thus) spake with him, exclaimed: Disbelievest thou in Him Who created thee of dust, then of a drop (of seed), and then fashioned thee a man? 37 "But (I think) for my part that He is Allah, My Lord, and none shall I associate with my Lord. 38 “And why was it not that you would have said when you entered your garden, ‘Whatever Allah wills – we do not have any strength except with the help of Allah’ – if you had observed me lesser than you in wealth and children.”? 39 “So it is likely that my Lord will give me a garden better than yours, and send bolts of lightning from the skies on your garden – it therefore turns into a barren plain.” 40 "Or the water of the garden will run off underground so that thou wilt never be able to find it." 41 And his property was encompassed; and lo! he was wringing the palms of his hands over that which he had expended thereon, while it laid fallen down on its trellises, and saying: Oh, would that I had not associated with my Lord anyone: 42 He had no host to help him besides Allah, and he was helpless 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