۞ (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 those gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein: in the midst of them We caused a river to flow. 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 Nor do I think that the Hour will come. Even if I returned to my Lord, I should 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 But as far as I am concerned, God alone is my Lord and I set up no partners with Him. 38 Wherefore saidst thou not, when thou enteredest thy garden: whatsoever Allah may will! there is no power save in Allah! If thou beholdest I am inferior to thee in substance and offspring. 39 Yet it may be that my Lord will give me better than thy garden, and will send on it a bolt from heaven, and some morning it will be a smooth hillside, 40 Or some morning the water thereof will be lost in the earth so that thou canst not make search for it. 41 So his fruits (and enjoyment) were encompassed (with ruin), and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had spent on his property, which had (now) tumbled to pieces to its very foundations, and he could only say, "Woe is me! Would I had never ascribed partners to my Lord and Cherisher!" 42 for now he had nought to succour him in God's stead, nor could he succour himself. 43 In such helplessness, the human being realizes that it is God who is the true Guardian and His rewards and recompense are the best. 44