Quran stories
The Owner of the Two Gardens: the story in the Quran
The instructive parable of an arrogant garden owner and his believing friend
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- Surah Al-Kahf, 32-44
- #the story of the Owner of the Two Gardens
- #Quran stories
- #Surah Al-Kahf
- #the test of wealth
- #arrogance
- #Masha'Allah
- #gratitude
At a glance
- Surah
- Surah Al-Kahf (18)
- Verses
- 32-44
- Theme
- The test of wealth and arrogance
- Setting
- No specific place given in the Quran (a parable)
- Main lesson
- Blessing comes from Allah; gratitude begins with saying "Masha'Allah"
Summary
In Surah Al-Kahf, Allah gives the parable of the owners of two gardens. One of them had been given two wide gardens full of grapevines, palm trees, and cultivated fields; but he relied on this wealth, grew arrogant, and even doubted the Hereafter. His believing friend called him to give thanks to Allah and not to forget the true giver of the blessing. But the arrogant man did not heed this advice, and in a single night his gardens were completely destroyed. He then felt regret, but it was already too late.
The story
The owner of two gardens
Allah gives the example of two men in this parable. One of them had been given two vineyards; both were surrounded by palm trees, and between them a cultivated field had been placed (Al-Kahf, 32).
Both gardens bore fruit without any loss, and a river flowed between them. So the garden owner had abundant produce and wealth in his hands.
Arrogance built on wealth
While talking with his believing companion, the garden owner boasted that he had more wealth and more people than him (Al-Kahf, 34).
Wronging himself, he entered his garden and said that he did not think this garden would ever perish, nor did he believe the Hour would come; and even if he were returned to his Lord, he claimed he would find something better still (Al-Kahf, 35-36). In this way, wealth drew him away from gratitude and led him into disbelief.
The believing friend's advice
His believing companion reminded him that one cannot deny Allah, who created man from earth, then from a drop of fluid, and then shaped him into a man. He himself said plainly: "My Lord is Allah, and I do not associate anyone with my Lord" (Al-Kahf, 37-38).
Then he gave him the real lesson: why, upon entering your garden, did you not say, "Masha'Allah, there is no power except with Allah"? He warned him that if Allah willed, He could send a calamity from the sky and turn this garden into barren, slipping ground, or make its water sink into the earth (Al-Kahf, 39-41).
The gardens destroyed in a single night
And so it happened. All his produce was destroyed. With the garden's trellises collapsed upon themselves, he wrung his hands over what he had spent on it, saying: "If only I had not associated anyone with my Lord!" (Al-Kahf, 42).
He found no group that could help him besides Allah, nor could he defend himself (Al-Kahf, 43). At that moment it became clear that true authority and protection belong only to Allah, the Truth; the best reward and the finest outcome are with Him alone (Al-Kahf, 44).
Key verses
وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَحَفَفْنَاهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعًا
- Transliteration
- Wadrib lahum mathalan rajulayni ja'alna li ahadihima jannatayni min a'nabin wa hafafnahuma binakhlin wa ja'alna baynahuma zar'a
- Meaning
- Give them the example of two men: to one of them We had given two vineyards, surrounded both with palm trees, and placed between them a cultivated field.
وَلَوْلَا إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا
- Transliteration
- Wa lawla idh dakhalta jannataka qulta ma sha'allahu la quwwata illa billah, in tarani ana aqalla minka malan wa walada
- Meaning
- Why did you not say, upon entering your garden, "Masha'Allah, there is no power except with Allah"? If you see me as less than you in wealth and children, know that everything rests in Allah's hand.
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَا أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا
- Transliteration
- Wa uhita bithamarihi faasbaha yuqallibu kaffayhi ala ma anfaqa fiha wa hiya khawiyatun ala urushiha wa yaqulu ya laytani lam ushrik birabbi ahada
- Meaning
- So his fruit was destroyed, and he was left wringing his hands over what he had spent on it, while its trellises had collapsed upon themselves, saying: "If only I had not associated anyone with my Lord!"
In the Quran
This account appears in the section of Surah Al-Kahf that deals with wealth, arrogance, and the Hereafter. Throughout the surah, various accounts emphasize Allah's greatness, the transience of worldly wealth, and the reality of the Hereafter; the parable of the owners of the two gardens serves this same overall purpose.
Lessons and wisdom
- Wealth is a trust from Allah; relying on it can lead a person into arrogance and disbelief.
- Saying "Masha'Allah, la quwwata illa billah" upon seeing a blessing is true gratitude.
- However great worldly wealth may be, it can be lost in an instant.
- A poor believer is superior in Allah's sight to an arrogant wealthy person.
- Regret is of no benefit once the test is over.
Sources
References are drawn from Quran verses, available authentic hadith and reliable scholarship.
- QuranSurah Al-Kahf, 32
This verse describes the parable of the garden owner and the two gardens given to him.
- QuranSurah Al-Kahf, 39
This verse contains the believing friend's advice, "Masha'Allah, la quwwata illa billah."
- QuranSurah Al-Kahf, 42
This verse narrates the destruction of the gardens and the garden owner's regret.
- Scholarly sourceTDV İslam Ansiklopedisi, "Kehf Sûresi"
Referenced for scholarly information on the purpose of the accounts in Surah Al-Kahf, including the parable concerning the test of wealth.
Related stories
Other narratives found in the Quran.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this story.
What is the story of the Owner of the Two Gardens about?
The story of the Owner of the Two Gardens is a parable given in Surah Al-Kahf: it tells of a wealthy man, given two gardens, who relied on his wealth and grew arrogant, of his believing friend calling him to gratitude, and of the gardens being destroyed in a single night.In which surah of the Quran is the story of the Owner of the Two Gardens told?
This account appears in verses 32-44 of Surah Al-Kahf (the 18th surah).What advice did the believing friend give to the wealthy man?
He advised him to say, upon entering his garden, "Masha'Allah, there is no power except with Allah," reminded him that the blessing came from Allah, and urged him not to associate anyone with Allah (Al-Kahf, 37-39).What is the main lesson of this story?
Wealth is a test from Allah; relying on it and growing arrogant leads a person to ruin, while gratitude is the true protection. Worldly wealth can be lost in an instant, and regret is of no benefit once it is too late.