۞ AND PROPOUND unto them the parable of two men, upon one of whom We had bestowed two vinyards, and surrounded them with date-palms, and placed a field of grain in-between. 32 Each of the two gardens yielded its produce and never failed therein in any way, for We had caused a stream to gush forth in the midst of each of them. 33 So he had fruit; and he said to his fellow, as he was conversing with him, 'I have more abundance of wealth than thou and am mightier in respect of men. 34 And when, having wronged himself, he entered his garden, he said: 'I do not think that this will 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 His friend said to him, "How can you disbelieve in the One who turned clay into sperm out of which He created you? 37 He is Allah, my Lord, and I will not associate anyone with My Lord. 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, in the morning its water will be drained into the earth so that you will not have a means to reach 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 And he had no troop of men to help him as against Allah, nor could he save himself. 43 Here is protection only Allah's, the True One; He is best in (the giving of) reward and best in requiting. 44