۞ (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 two gardens yielded its produce and failed naught in any wise; and We caused to gush amidst them a river. 33 And he had fruit, so he said to his companion while he was conversing with him, "I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in [numbers of] men." 34 And he entered his garden, while he was a wrong-doer in respect of his own soul; he said: I imagine not that this shall ever perish. 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 And his friend answered him in the course of their argument: "Wilt thou blaspheme against Him who has created thee out of dust, and then out of a drop of sperm, and in the end has fashioned thee into a [complete] man? 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 it may well be that my Lord will give me something better than your vineyard, and send a calamity upon your vineyard from the heavens and it will be reduced to a barren waste, 40 or its water sinks deep into the ground, so that thou wilt never be able to find it again!" 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 But there was no host to help him, apart from God, and he was helpless. 43 (Then he knew) that all power of protection rests with Allah, the True One. He is the best to reward, the best to determine the end of things. 44