۞ (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 property. Then he said unto his fellow while he spake with him: I am more than thou in substance and am mightier in respect of retinue. 34 Having thus harmed his own soul, he entered his garden saying, "I do not think this will ever perish, 35 "And I think not the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back to my Lord, (on the Day of Resurrection), I surely shall find better than this when I return to Him." 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 As for myself, Allah alone is my Lord, and I associate none with my Lord in His Divinity. 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 well be that my Lord will give me something better than your vineyard, and send a calamity upon your vineyard from the heavens and it will be reduced to a barren waste, 40 or its water may sink into the earth, so that you will never be able to find it again!" 41 And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone." 42 But there was no host to help him, apart from God, and he was helpless. 43 In this case is protection only from Allah, the True, He is Best for reward, and best for consequence. 44