۞ (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 Each of the gardens gave its fruit and withheld naught thereof. And We caused a river to gush forth therein. 33 And he had property. Then he said unto his fellow while he spake with him: I am more than thou in substance and am mightier in respect of retinue. 34 And he walked into his garden, and, (forgetting) his limit, said: "I cannot imagine that this will ever be ruined, 35 And I do not think the hour will come, and even if I am returned to my Lord I will most certainly find a returning place better than this. 36 His companion replied, in the course of their discussion, "Do you deny Him who created you from dust, from a small drop of fluid, then formed you into a man? 37 “But I just say that only Allah is my Lord, and I do not ascribe anyone as a partner to 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 some morning the water thereof will be lost in the earth so that thou canst not make search for it. 41 And his vines were overtaken (with disaster), and he began to wring his hands (at the loss) of what he had spent on them, for the vines had fallen upon their trellises; and he said: "Would to God that I had not associated any one with my Lord." 42 Nor had he numbers to help him against Allah, nor was he able to deliver himself. 43 Here is protection only Allah's, the True One; He is best in (the giving of) reward and best in requiting. 44