۞ 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 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 And he had fruit, so he said to his companion while he was conversing with him, "I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in [numbers 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 I imagine that the Hour is going to happen; and if am brought back to my Lord, surely I will find something better than this as a retreat. 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 for me, He is Allah, my Lord, and I do not associate with my Lord anyone. 38 When you entered your vineyard, why did you not say: 'Whatever Allah wills shall come to pass, for there is no power save with Allah!' If you find me less than yourself in wealth and children 39 yet it may well be that my Sustainer will give me something better than thy garden - just as He may let loose a calamity out of heaven upon this [thy garden,] so that it becomes a heap of barren dust 40 "Or the water thereof (of the gardens) becomes deep-sunken (underground) so that you will never be able to seek it." 41 So it was, and all his fruit was destroyed. The vines had all fallen down on their trellises, and their owner wrung his hands, bewailing all that he had spent on his garden. He said, "Would that I had not associated anyone with my Lord!" 42 And he had no group to help him against Allah, nor was he capable of taking revenge. 43 For thus it is: all protective power belongs to God alone, the True One. He is the best to grant recompense, and the best to determine what is to be. 44