Surah 18:33
Show Full Scripture Context (18:32-36) — 5 Verses
۞وَٱضۡرِبۡ لَهُم مَّثَلٗا رَّجُلَيۡنِ جَعَلۡنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيۡنِ مِنۡ أَعۡنَٰبٖ وَحَفَفۡنَٰهُمَا بِنَخۡلٖ وَجَعَلۡنَا بَيۡنَهُمَا زَرۡعٗا
Strike for them a parable of two men: We made for one of them two gardens of grapes, and surrounded both with date palms, and placed between them (a field of) crops.
كِلۡتَا ٱلۡجَنَّتَيۡنِ ءَاتَتۡ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمۡ تَظۡلِم مِّنۡهُ شَيۡـٔٗاۚ وَفَجَّرۡنَا خِلَٰلَهُمَا نَهَرٗا
Each of the two gardens produced its fruit and did not fail in any way. And We caused a river to gush forth between them.
وَكَانَ لَهُۥ ثَمَرٞ فَقَالَ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُۥٓ أَنَا۠ أَكۡثَرُ مِنكَ مَالٗا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرٗا
And he had fruit. So he said to his companion, while he was talking with him, ‘I am greater than you in wealth, and mightier in family.’
وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُۥ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٞ لِّنَفۡسِهِۦ قَالَ مَآ أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَٰذِهِۦٓ أَبَدٗا
And he entered his garden, doing himself evil, (for) he said, ‘I do not think that this will ever perish,
وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةٗ وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهَا مُنقَلَبٗا
nor do I think the Hour is coming. If indeed I am returned to my Lord, I shall indeed find a better (place of) return than this.’
After mentioning the idolators who were too arrogant to sit with the poor and weak among Muslims, showing off before them with their wealth and noble lineage, Allah then gives a parable for them of two men, one of whom Allah gave two gardens of grapes, surrounded with palm trees and cultivated with crops throughout. All of the trees and plants were abundantly fruitful, providing readily accessible, good quality produce. Allah says:
meaning, produced its fruits,
meaning, nothing at all was diminishing.
means, rivers were flowing through them here and there.
It was said that what was meant here was wealth, and it was said that what was meant were fruits, which is the more apparent meaning here. This is also supported by the alternative recitation, Thumr, which is the plural of Thamrah (fruit) just as Khushb is the plural of Khashab (wood). Others recite it as Thamar.
{and he said} the owner of the two gardens
means, while he was disputing with him and boasting to him and showing off,
meaning, 'I have more servants, attendants and children.' Qatadah said, "This, by Allah, is the wish of the immoral to have a lot of wealth and a large entourage.
meaning, in his disbelief, rebellion, arrogance and denial of the Hereafter.
Thus he was allowing himself to be deceived because of the plants, fruits and trees that he saw, and the rivers flowing through the different parts of his gardens. He thought that it could never come to an end or cease or be destroyed. This was because of his lack of understanding and the weakness of his faith in Allah, and because he was enamored with this world and its adornments, and because he disbelieved in the Hereafter. So he said:
meaning, will ever happen
meaning, 'if there is a Hereafter and a return to Allah, then I will have a better share than this with my Lord, for if it were not that I am dear to Him, He would not have given me all this.' As Allah says elsewhere:
{But if I am brought back to my Lord, surely there will be for me the best with Him} [41:50]
He took it for granted that Allah would give him this, without any sound evidence for that. The reason why this Ayah was revealed was because of Al-'As bin Wa'il, as we will explain in the appropriate place, if Allah wills. In Allah we put our trust.
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Page 151-153)