LXXXI.
Propound unto them as a parable two men, on one of whom[180] We bestowed two gardens of grape-vines, and We surrounded them with palm-trees, and put corn between them; each of the gardens brought forth its fruit, and failed not thereof at all;
And We caused a river to flow between them; and he had abundance. And he said unto his companion, disputing with him, ‘I am greater than thou in wealth and more mighty in family.’
And he entered his garden, being unjust to his own soul.[181] He said, ‘I do not think that this will ever perish,
And I do not think that the [Last] Hour will come; and if I should be taken back unto my Lord, I shall assuredly find a better [garden] than it in return.’
His companion said unto him, disputing with him, ‘Dost thou disbelieve in Him who created thee of dust, then completely fashioned thee into a man?
God is my Lord, and I will not associate any one with my Lord.
And why when thou enteredst thy garden didst thou not say, ‘What God willeth[182] [cometh to pass]: there is no power but in God?’ If thou seest me to be inferior to thee in amount of wealth and in number of children,
Perhaps my Lord may give me [what will be] better than thy garden; and may send upon [thine] thunderbolts from heaven, so that it shall become a smooth and slippery ground;
Or its water may become deep-sunk [in the earth], so that thou shalt not be able to draw it.’—