۞ (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 the gardens gave yields and gave no shortfall in it – and We made a river to flow between the two. 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 having [thus] sinned against himself, he entered his garden, saying, "I do not think that this will ever perish! 35 I do not think that the Hour is coming; and if I am indeed returned to my Lord, I shall surely find a better resort 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 As for myself, Allah alone is my Lord, and I associate none with my Lord in His Divinity. 38 When you entered your garden, why did you not say: 'As God may please;' for no one has power except given by God? Though you see me poorer in wealth and children than you, 39 Yet, my Lord may haply give me a garden better than yours, and He may send a thunder-bolt, from the skies and in the morning it will be a barren plain; 40 “Or its water may sink into the earth, so you may never be able to find it.” 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 He had no party to help him against God, nor was he able to defend himself. 43 Here is protection only Allah's, the True One; He is best in (the giving of) reward and best in requiting. 44