| And give them the example of two men. We made for one of them two gardens of grapes, and We surrounded them with palm trees, and We made between them a green field. Both gardens brought forth their fruit, and none failed in the least. And We caused a river to pass through them. And he had abundant fruit, so he said to his friend while discussing with him: �I am better off than you financially, and of great influence.� And he went back into his garden while he had wronged himself. He said: �I do not think that this will ever perish. And I do not think that the Hour is coming. And when I return to my lord, then I am sure to find with him even better than this as a reward.� His friend said to him while discussing with him: �Have you disbelieved in the One who created you from dirt, then from a seed, then He evolved you into a man? But He is God, my Lord, and I do not place any partners at all with my Lord. And if you enter your garden, you should have said: �This is what God Has given, there is no power except by God.� You see me as being less than you in wealth and in children? Perhaps my Lord will give me better than your garden, and He should send upon it a violent storm from the sky, so it becomes completely barren. Or that its water becomes under-ground, so you will not be able to seek it.� So his fruits were ruined, and he began turning his hands at that which he has spent on it while it remained destroyed upon its foundations. And he says: �I wish I did not make any partner with my Lord!� And he had no group which could help against God, and he would not have had victory. Such is the true authority of God. He is best to reward, and best to punish. (18:32-44) In this parable we are introduced to two men. Companions who are met in an argument, one boasting to the other. Of the two men, one has two gardens. These gardens are vine gardens which are surrounded or fenced about by date-palms. In between both of these vine gardens are fields of corn and a stream. We learn that by the God's leave the gardens produce abundant fruit. Than we have the other man, the Rich Man's companion, who is not like his companion in abundance of riches (18:34: 'I am better off than you financially, and of great influence..'), but still nonetheless a firm believer in God (18:38: 'But He is God, my Lord, and I do not place any partners at all with my Lord.'.). Now something happens, something that the God has warned man about from the fore (20:131, 47:36, 87:16). To protect ourselves from forgetting God, and falling in love with the things of this world. Hoarding has distracted you. Until you visit the graves. (102:1-2) While the two men walk into the garden, the Rich Man who is the possessor of that which the God has blessed him with, wrongs his soul by (1) denying God (18:35-36: And he went back into his garden while he had wronged himself. He said: �I do not think that this will ever perish. And I do not think that the Hour is coming. And when I return to my lord, then I am sure to find with him even better than this as a reward.�) as a sustainer(3:2). This man even went so far as to (2) deny the hereafter (18:36: 'And I do not think that the Hour is coming.')! The success of the worldly life was really getting to, or corrupting him, but his friend could not stand this and rebuked the richer man (18:37: His friend said to him while discussing with him: �Have you disbelieved in the One who created you from dirt, then from a seed, then He evolved you into a man?�) and reminded him that God is still the Lord. The poorer man then warned that the God could still change the outcome of things by draining the Rich Man's prosperity, and giving him (The Poorer Man) more prosperity. Soon it came to pass after their argument that the rich man could not defend himself from God punishing him by calling for destruction of the garden as it fell upon itself. The Lessons: Do not forget to put on your protection (7:26) by keeping God in mind, or else we are susceptible to falling into evil. God provides for us, and protects our provisions, and once again keep God in mind in all of this, and we acknowledge that God is the only Power that gives us our provisions, or takes them away from us (Quran 18:39, 39:52). God rewards and brings good to the people, and boasting in ignorance does not make one better than another (49:11). Success can breed the illusion of 'self-sufficiency', when it would humble one who keeps God ever in remembrance. |