۞ Propound thou unto them the similitude of two men. We appointed to one of them two gardens of vine and hedged both with date-palms, and We placed in-between the twain tillage. 32 each garden produced its fruit and did not fail to yield its best; We even caused a river to gush forth in the midst of them, 33 So he became rich. Arguing one day with his friend he said: "I have more wealth than you and more powerful kinsmen." 34 Having thus harmed his own soul, he entered his garden saying, "I do not think this will ever perish, 35 and I do not believe that the Hour will ever come. Even if I am returned to my Lord, I shall surely find a better place 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 As for myself, Allah alone is my Lord, and I associate none with my Lord in His Divinity. 38 And [he continued:] "Alas, if thou hadst but said, on entering thy garden, 'Whatever God wills [shall come to pass, for] there is no power save with God!' Although, as thou seest, I have less wealth and offspring than thou, 39 yet it may be that my Lord will give me better than thy garden, and loose on it a thunderbolt out of heaven, so that in the morning it will be a slope of dust, 40 or in the morning the water of it will be sunk into the earth, so that thou wilt not be able to seek it out.' 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 And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor could he defend himself. 43 Thereover protection belongs only to God the True; He is best rewarding, best in the issue. 44