۞ (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 gardens gave its fruit and withheld naught thereof. And We caused a river to gush forth therein. 33 And so [the man] had fruit in abundance. And [one day] he said to his friend, bandying words with him, "More wealth have I than thou, and mightier am I as regards [the number and power of my] followers!" 34 And he went into his garden, while he (thus) wronged himself. He said: I think not that all this will ever perish. 35 And neither do I think that the Last Hour will ever come. But even if [it should come, and] I am brought before my Sustainer, I will surely find something even better than this as [my last] resort!" 36 While conversing with him his neighbour exclaimed: "Do you deny Him Who created you out of dust, then out of a drop of sperm, and then fashioned you into a complete man? 37 “But I just say that only Allah is my Lord, and I do not ascribe anyone as a partner to my Lord.” 38 If only, when thou enteredst thy garden, thou hadst said: That which Allah willeth (will come to pass)! There is no strength save in Allah! Though thou seest me as less than thee in wealth and children, 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 the water thereof (of the gardens) becomes deep-sunken (underground) so that you will never be able to seek it." 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 Nor had he numbers to help him against Allah, nor was he able to deliver himself. 43 Here brought to light is that the authority is only for Allah, the True; the reward He bestows is the best, and believing in Him has the best outcome. 44