The story of the two farmers

(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)

Both the vineyards yielded abundant produce without failure and We caused a stream to flow in their midst (33)

so the owner had fruit in abundance and he said to his neighbour, while conversing with him: “I have greater wealth than you and I am stronger than you in numbers.”(34)

Then he entered his vine-yard and said, wronging himself: “Surely, I do not believe that all this will ever perish. (35)

Nor do I believe that the Hour of Resurrection will ever come to pass. And even if I am returned to my Lord, I shall find a better place than this.”(36)

While conversing with him his neighbour exclaimed: “Do you deny Him Who created you out of dust, then out of a drop of sperm, and then fashioned you into a complete man? (37)

As for myself, Allah alone is my Lord, and I associate none with my Lord in His Divinity.(38)

When you entered your vineyard, why did you not say: ‘Whatever Allah wills shall come to pass, for there is no power save with Allah!’ If you find me less than yourself in wealth and children (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 the water of your vineyard will be drained deep into the ground so that you will not be able to seek it out.”(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)

And there was no host, beside Allah, to help him, nor could he be of any help to 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)

(O Prophet), propound to them the parable of the present life: it is like the vegetation of the earth which flourished luxuriantly when it mingled with the water that We sent down from the sky, but after that the same vegetation turned into stubble which the winds blew about. Allah alone has the power over all things. (45)

(Surah Al-Kahf 18:32 – 45)