Give them ˹O Prophet˺ an example of two men. To ˹the disbelieving˺ one We gave two gardens of grapevines, which We surrounded with palm trees and placed ˹various˺ crops in between.18:32

Each garden yielded ˹all˺ its produce, never falling short. And We caused a river to flow between them.18:33

And he had other resources ˹as well˺. So he boasted to a ˹poor˺ companion of his, while conversing with him, “I am greater than you in wealth and superior in manpower.”18:34

And he entered his property, while wronging his soul, saying, “I do not think this will ever perish,18:35

nor do I think the Hour will ˹ever˺ come. And if in fact I am returned to my Lord, I will definitely get a far better outcome than ˹all˺ this.”18:36

His ˹believing˺ companion replied, while conversing with him, “Do you disbelieve in the One Who created you from dust, then ˹developed you˺ from a sperm-drop, then formed you into a man?18:37

But as for me: He is Allah, my Lord, and I will never associate anyone with my Lord ˹in worship˺.18:38

If only you had said, upon entering your property, ‘This is what Allah has willed! There is no power except with Allah!’ Even though you see me inferior to you in wealth and offspring,18:39

perhaps my Lord will grant me ˹something˺ better than your garden, and send down upon your garden a thunderbolt from the sky, turning it into a barren waste.18:40

Or its water may sink ˹into the earth˺, and then you will never be able to seek it out.”18:41

And so all his produce was ˹totally˺ ruined, so he started to wring his hands for all he had spent on it, while it had collapsed on its trellises. He cried, “Alas! I wish I had never associated anyone with my Lord ˹in worship˺!”18:42

And he had no manpower to help him against Allah, nor could he ˹even˺ help himself.18:43

At this time, support comes ˹only˺ from Allah—the True ˹Lord˺. He is best in reward and best in outcome.18:44

In this story, we witness the dangers of pride and self-conceit through the example of a wealthy man and his righteous, but less affluent, companion. Some say this companion was a brother, others a cousin. The narrative showcases how the wealthy man's arrogance led him astray. Allah describes how this man entered his garden with an air of superiority, thinking himself mighty while actually doing an injustice to himself. His narcissistic boasts and delusions of grandeur did not establish his nobility but revealed his vanity.. Blinded by his wealth, the man lost sight of the hereafter, believing his prosperity would last forever. He forgot the reality of death and assumed that his wealth was a sign of Allah’s favor. He thought that even if he returned to Allah, he would receive even better rewards. However, wealth is not indicative of Allah’s pleasure, especially if it is not earned and spent through Halal means. Ingratitude towards Allah is the seed that sprouts the evil fruit of denial and disbelief. The righteous companion admonishes the wealthy man, accusing him of Kufr (disbelief) for rejecting Allah’s blessings. He reminds him that the garden and all its blessings are from Allah, not from his own doing. The story ends with the sudden destruction of all the wealthy man's possessions. This serves as a powerful lesson, we must be thankful to Allah and not take things for granted. Both the temporary nature of this world and the accountability we will face in the next are emphasized in the Qur'an. In Surah Al-Israa and Surah Al-Kahf, Allah provides an example of this world’s fleeting nature, likening it to rain that nourishes plants only for them to become debris, hay, and dust scattered by the wind. Allah has power over everything. In verses 45-46 of Surah Al-Kahf, Allah describes wealth and family as pleasures of this world, valuable in themselves. However, good deeds that last forever are better and more rewarding. If we use our wealth to perform good deeds and get closer to Allah, then we have truly linked our blessings to the worship of Allah.