Parables of the QuranA parable of the Quran · Al-Kahf 18:32–44

The two men and their gardens

مثل الرجلين وصاحب الجنتين

A man proud of his gardens denied the Hereafter; his believing companion warned him, and the gardens were ruined.

Quran

What it means

Two men: one was given two gardens of vines ringed with palms, with crops between them and a river through them. He grew proud, thought they would never perish and doubted the Hour; his believing companion reminded him of the One who created him and warned him. Then his fruit was destroyed, and he was left wringing his hands over what he had spent on it (18:32–44).

As-Sa'di explains that the lesson is in their words and deeds and what came of them, not in who they were: the one who was grateful for Allah's blessing, and the one who denied it and forgot his Hereafter.

Evidence

QuranAl-Kahf (The Cave)Quran 18:32

۞ وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَعْنَـٰبٍ وَحَفَفْنَـٰهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعًا ٣٢

And present to them an example of two men: We granted to one of them two gardens of grapevines, and We bordered them with palm trees and placed between them [fields of] crops.

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

32. And put forward to them the example of two men: unto one of them We had given two gardens of grapes, and We had surrounded both with date-palms; and had put between them green crops (cultivated fields).

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