۞ وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَعْنَـٰبٍ وَحَفَفْنَـٰهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعًا 32
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Waḍrib lahum mathalan rajulayni jaʿalnā li-aḥadihimā jannatayn min aʿnābin wa-ḥafafnāhumā bi-nakhlin wa-jaʿalnā baynahhumā zarʿā
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad to present to the disbelievers a parable of two men, one of whom was blessed with two gardens of grapevines surrounded by date palms with crops growing between them. This ayah introduces a contrast between two men that will unfold throughout the subsequent ayat, illustrating the difference between one who recognizes divine blessings with gratitude and humility versus one consumed by arrogance and ingratitude. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this parable serves as a powerful lesson about material wealth, spiritual poverty, and the transience of worldly possessions.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Kahf, revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islam when the Quraysh were challenging the Prophet's message. The parable of the two men (18:32-44) was revealed to illustrate to the Meccan polytheists the dangers of arrogance and disbelief despite material abundance, contrasting with sincere faith and gratitude to Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), relating to the theme of how blessings should be used responsibly. Additionally, the hadith emphasizing gratitude: 'Whoever is grateful, he is grateful to himself, and whoever is ungrateful, then surely Allah is Rich, Worthy of praise' (Qur'an 31:12 and related in various hadith collections).
Themes
Key Lesson
True wealth and success are measured not merely by material abundance but by one's character, gratitude, and recognition of Allah's dominion over all blessings. Worldly possessions are temporary tests that reveal whether one's heart is attached to Allah or to material gain, making sincere faith and humility essential for both spiritual and ultimate success.