• How ingratitude draws the deprivation of the blessings of God and how gratitude increases the bounties of the Lord

Al-Kahf Verses 32 – 44

وَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ مَثَلًا رَجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَحَفَفْنَاهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعًا

And set forth unto them1a parable: Two men We made for one of them two gardens of grape-vines, and We surrounded the two (gardens) with date palms, and made We corn fields in the midst of the two (gardens) (18:32)

كِلْتَا الْجَنَّتَيْنِ آتَتْ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمْ تَظْلِمْ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا وَفَجَّرْنَا خِلَالَهُمَا نَهَرًا

Both the gardens brought forth its fruits and failed not aught in it, and We caused a river to gush forth in their midst, (18:33)2

وَكَانَ لَهُ ثَمَرٌ فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَنَا أَكْثَرُ مِنْكَ مَالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا

And he had fruits (in abundance), and said he unto his companion while talking to him: “I am greater than thee in wealth and am mightier in my clan.” (18:34)

وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِنَفْسِهِ قَالَ مَا أَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبِيدَ هَٰذِهِ أَبَدًا

And entered his garden he who was unjust to himself. Said he: “I think not that this will ever perish,” (18:35)

وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً وَلَئِنْ رُدِدْتُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِنْهَا مُنْقَلَبًا

“And I think not that the Hour (of Resurrection and Judgment) will ever come, and even if I am returned unto my Lord, I will (ever) of a certainty find better than this a 3resort.” (18:36)

قَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَكَفَرْتَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَكَ مِنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوَّاكَ رَجُلًا

Said unto him his companion while talking to him: “What! disbelievest thou in Him Who created thee from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then He fashioned thee (into) a complete man?” (18:37)4

لَٰكِنَّا هُوَ اللَّهُ رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا

“But as for me He, God is my Lord, and I associate not with my Lord any one.” (18:38)

وَلَوْلَا إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ إِنْ تَرَنِ أَنَا أَقَلَّ مِنْكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا

“And why didst thou not say when thou didst enter thy garden: “(It is) as God willeth! there is no power but with God, if thou dost see me less than thee in wealth and children.” (18:39)

فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّي أَنْ يُؤْتِيَنِ خَيْرًا مِنْ جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهَا حُسْبَانًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتُصْبِحَ صَعِيدًا زَلَقًا

“Yet maybe my Lord may give me better than thy garden, and send on it (on thy garden) thunderbolts (as a reckoning) from heaven, that it becometh barren slippery dust,” (18:40)

أَوْ يُصْبِحَ مَاؤُهَا غَوْرًا فَلَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ لَهُ طَلَبًا

“Or get sunk underground its waters and thereafter never thou art able to search for it.” (18:41)

وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَا أَنْفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا

And his fruits were enwrapped into destruction, so he began wringing his hands for what he had spent in it, and it (his garden) lay fallen on its roofs, and said he: “Alas me! Would that I had not associated with my Lord any one!” (18:42)

وَلَمْ تَكُنْ لَهُ فِئَةٌ يَنْصُرُونَهُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنْتَصِرًا

He had no force5to help him other than God, nor could he himself help. (18:43)

هُنَالِكَ الْوَلَايَةُ لِلَّهِ الْحَقِّ هُوَ خَيْرٌ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ عُقْبًا

Here (in the event of such a helplessness) protection6is only God’s the Truth; He is the Best to reward and the Best to requite. (18:44)

Commentary

Verses 32 - 34

This verse and the following six verses comprise the parable of the one puffed up with his possessions, his sources of wealth, large family and his public status and position, while the other humble and modest one who is mindful of the ultimate end of man, and all authority, glory and praise being exclusively of God.

Verses 35 - 36

The man of wealth and power who is puffed up of it, thinks in vain that what he owns shall last for ever, and there is no day of reckoning or requital to come and thinks the possessions and the pleasures of this world to be everlasting.

Verse 37

This is what the poor believer replies to the disbeliever puffed up with wealth and power. He reminds him of the origin of man.7

• 1. Those enjoying the worldly pomp & show. Refer to verse 18:28.
• 2. Refer to note on verse 6:44.
• 3. Returning place.
• 4. Refer to verses 15:28, 15:29 & 87:2.
• 5. Host.
• 6. Hold – Authority – Mastery.
• 7. See verses 15:28, 15:29 & 87:2.