۞ Coin for them a similitude: Two men, unto one of whom We had assigned two gardens of grapes, and We had surrounded both with date-palms and had put between them tillage. 32 Each of those two gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein, and We caused a river to gush forth in the midst of them. 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 Having thus harmed his own soul, he entered his garden saying, "I do not think this will ever perish, 35 And I do not think the Hour will occur. And even if I should be brought back to my Lord, I will surely find better than this as a return." 36 Said his fellow, as he was conversing with him, 'What, disbelievest thou in Him who created thee of dust, then of a sperm-drop, then shaped thee as a man? 37 But lo, He is God, my Lord, and I will not associate with my Lord any one. 38 And wherefore did you not say when you entered your garden: It is as Allah has pleased, there is no power save in Allah? If you consider me to be inferior to you in wealth and children, 39 my Lord may well give me a garden better than yours and send down thunderbolts from heaven upon your vineyard, turning it into a barren waste; 40 "Or the water thereof (of the gardens) becomes deep-sunken (underground) so that you will never be able to seek 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 group of men to help him against Allah, nor could he defend or save himself. 43 The jurisdiction in this province belongs to God. His is the best reward, and His the best requital. 44