۞ And strike for them a similitude: two men. To one of them We assigned two gardens of vines, and surrounded them with palm-trees, and between them We set a sown field; 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 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 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 His comrade, when he (thus) spake with him, exclaimed: Disbelievest thou in Him Who created thee of dust, then of a drop (of seed), and then fashioned thee a man? 37 But as for me, He is Allah, my Lord, and I do not associate with my Lord anyone. 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 Then belike my Lord will vouchsafe unto me something better than thy garden and send thereon a belt from the heaven that it become a plane slippery. 40 or cause the streams in your garden to disappear under the ground such that you will never be able to find them. 41 Eventually all his produce was destroyed and he began to wring his hands in sorrow at the loss of what he had spent on it, and on seeing it fallen down upon its trellises, saying: "Would I had not associated anyone with my Lord in His Divinity." 42 for now he had nought to succour him in God's stead, nor could he succour himself. 43 (Then he knew) that all power of protection rests with Allah, the True One. He is the best to reward, the best to determine the end of things. 44