Surah Al-Kahf 18:32-44 - Quran Translation Commentary

32. Narrate to them the parable of two men,⁴⁹ to one of whom We gave two vineyards and surrounded them with date-palms and in between the two we placed a cornfield.⁵⁰

33. Each of the two gardens yielded its produce and failed not in the least. We caused a stream to flow in them.

34. And (from the gardens) the man had fruits. Then he said to his conversing with him: “I am richer than you and mightier in companions”. ⁵¹

35. And he entered his garden, while he (thus) wronged himself. He said: “I do not think that all this will ever perish.⁵²”

36. Nor do I think that the hour of doom will ever come. Even if I returned to my Lord, surely I Should find a better place than this.”⁵³

37. His companion, while conversing with him, said: “Do you disbelieve in Him who created you from dust, then from a sperm drop, and then fashioned you into a man?⁵⁴

38. But (I say) Allah is my Lord, and do not ascribe to my Lord any partner. ⁵⁵”

39. When you entered your garden, why did you not say: ‘Masha Allahu La Quwwata Illa Billah (That which Allah ordained must come to pass; there is no strength save in Allah). ⁵⁶ If you see me poorer than yourself and blessed with fewer children.”

40. Yet it may be that my Lord may give me better than your garden,⁵⁷ and will send on it a bolt from heaven turning it into a barren waste.⁵⁸”

41. Or its water may drain deep into the earth and you can find it no more.”⁵⁹

42. And his fruits were beset (with destruction). Then he began to wring his hands for all that he had spent on it, when they (the vines) had tumbled down on their trellises, and to Say: Would that I had ascribed no partner to my Lord!”⁶⁰

43. And he had no group(of followers)to help him against Allah, nor was he able to save himself.⁶¹

44. In this case (it became clear that) the authority is for only Allah, the True. He is best for reward, and best for consequence.⁶²

Commentary

49. This is not a fictitious or imaginary parable, but a real happening, which is narrated with a view to providing a lesson, moral instruction. Further on in Verses Nos. 34 and 37 there is a clarification that the two persons conversed, which is a proof of this parable or example being a happening of real life.

50. That is: Allah had been so generous with him that instead of one he was given two gardens or vineyards, and they were of a very high quality. The high quality vineyards or gardens of the Arabs were such as had palm trees around the grape creepers so that strong winds might not damage the vines, and in the middle: portion they used to have cornfields which yielded corns

51. This was his boastful talk and the pride embedded in his heart came out during his conversation.

52. When a man has plenty of resources, he is intoxicated with the wine of wealth and thinks that at least during his lifetime it will not disappear. This is generally the psychology of the wealthy people; which satisfaction makes them heedless of Allah.

53. That is: First there will be no Doomsday at all, and if perchance it occurred, then as he was blessed in the world with all kinds of comforts he will be blessed in the Hereafter also in the same manner. This is the mentality of the wealthy people. They think that the wealth given to them in this world is not to test them by Allah, but that they received it because they deserved it, and that when they deserved it in this world they would also deserve to get it in the next world.

54. His companion who was a Momin explained to him the facts. He declared his boastful talk as open disbelief and invited him to consider that the Being who, with the miracle of His might, created man from dust, then from the mean sperm-drop procreated his race, and then made him into a complete man, how could he dare be ungrateful to that Being? It is also a pointer to the fact that a Momin takes advantage of the opportune moment for conveying his message and propagating his mission and for inviting people to remember God, his conversation is ever laced with moral lessons; he is ever thoughtful and anxious to reform his companions, and in his routine conversations he rolls out valuable gems of thought.

55. This was the proclamation of monotheism and refutation of polytheism.

56. That is: Seeing the garden you should not have boastfully declared your own greatness, you should have acknowledged the favours of Allah; moreover you should have expressed and acknowledged the fact that taking benefits from Allah’s assistance depends on His guidance and will. It is neither my own strength nor the might of any other being that can give me any benefit. In this ayah is hidden a lesson for a Muslim that when entering his factory, garden, field or estate, etc., he should express his thanks to his Lord on seeing the attractive scene of the plentiful produce and abundance of wealth, etc.; he should express his trust in Him. For this purpose the words, “Masha Allahu La Quwwata illa Billah” are most appropriate.

57. That is: It is hoped that Allah will bless me with a better bounty. In this is the hint towards the Paradise in the Hereafter compared to which the gardens of the world are worthless and colourless.

58. That is: Do not be proud of your garden. Fear God that He may not destroy your garden by sending a bolt from the heaven.

59. That is: There is also the possibility of the river or the canal seeping or draining down into the earth. It means that something untoward would happen which would cause the vineyard or the garden to be turned into wasteland.

60. The fear of the faithful Muslim came to be true; the garden was completely wiped out. Seeing this, the disbeliever was left wringing his hands in sorrow. At that time he realized the futility of his wrong mentality and the truth dawned on him that the belief in monotheism is the right belief. Therefore, he was sorry for the polytheistic belief that he was holding.

61.When Allah destroyed his garden, the group of followers on whom he relied so much and was boastful about them could not help him in any way nor did his imaginary partners of God come to his rescue. He himself was also unable to resist this divine onslaught.

62. That is: From this event it has become clear that all power and authority are with Allah alone, who is the true Lord, and there is none as His partner in these powers and authority. Benefit or damage depends on His will. Therefore, reward and compensation be requested from Him and hopes should also be rivetted to Him.

Besides this guidance, another lesson is derived from this event that those who believe in God and the Hereafter and present His message to others may not enjoy a good position from the material point of view, but it is only they whose end will be blissful, and those who are proud of their disbelief and wealth will ultimately have to be sorry.