۞ (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 two gardens yielded its produce and failed naught in any wise; and We caused to gush amidst them a river. 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 when, having wronged himself, he entered his garden, he said: '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 companion said to him, in the course of the argument with him: "Dost thou deny Him Who created thee out of dust, then out of a sperm-drop, then fashioned thee into a man? 37 But lo, He is God, my Lord, and I will not associate with my Lord any one. 38 When you entered your garden, why did you not say: 'As God may please;' for no one has power except given by God? Though you see me poorer in wealth and children than you, 39 It may be that my Lord will give me [something] better than your garden and will send upon it a calamity from the sky, and it will become a smooth, dusty ground, 40 Or some morning the water thereof will be lost in the earth so that thou canst not make search for 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 there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor could he defend himself. 43 In this case is protection only from Allah, the True, He is Best for reward, and best for consequence. 44