تدبر سورة الكهف 6

The Story of the Owner of the Two Gardens - The Trial of Wealth (فتنة المال) - Verses 32-59

Verse 32: 

This is either a parable or a conversation that actually took place, between two friends. This dialogue serves as a protection for us from trials because it teaches us what is right and wrong. Wealth can change a person, and many people don't think it can be a فتنة. 

Allah gave one of these friends two gardens, while the other had no garden at all. This shows us that wealth isn't distributed equally in this world, it's merely a test, and possession of it doesn't indicate a person is better than the other. Some have children, some don't. Some have food, others don't. 

الشاكر لنعم الله -> One is thankful for Allah's blessings 

الكافر بنعمة الله -> The other is ungrateful for the blessings of Allah 

The owner of the two gardens is not necessarily a disbeliever, but a person who covered the blessings Allah bestowed upon him. 

These gardens grew grape vines. Grapes are colourful, sweet smelling and tasting, and can be dried into raisins. And these grape vines were surrounded by date palms as a protection and boundary. In between them were various kinds of crops, fields, and plants. 

Verse 33:

"ءاتت أكلها"

The fruit came smoothly and easily without any trouble. 

"و لم تظلم منه شيئا"

I.e. الثمار متضاعفة / لم تنقص

These gardens would faithfully give fruits all year round, in all seasons, and in abundance. 

"و فجرنا خلالهما نهرا"

There was never a shortage of water either, because in the midst of all this splendor - the fruit vines, the dates, the crops, and different plants - flowed sweet rivers of water. It doesn't depend on rain, it's always nourished.

All this was the wealth of one man.

Verse 34:

"ثمر" is indefinite, which indicates the greatness and abundance of his fruits. There were no faults in his fruits, and this deceived him, made him proud, and caused him to forget the hereafter.

Material possessions do not add value to the person. 

Allah created us to be higher than all these worldly things; He commanded the Angels to prostrate to Adam عليه السلام because of his knowledge. Don't equate worldly wealth with the love of Allah.

"فقال لصاحبه و هو يحاوره"

This is the beginning of the فتنة. He had a favour and felt the need to boast about it, although there was no need for him to speak. 

Verse 35:

"و دخل جنته" -> His action

"و هو ظالم لنفسه" -> His condition

He was unjust to himself by sinning, and his arrogance is clearly shown in his words.

"قال ما أظن أن تبيد هاذه أبدا"

He doubts his garden will ever perish, and this is injustice, because Allah says in the beginning of the Surah (18:7-8):

When we own things, we can easily get deceived and believe that it will remain eternally with us and never perish. And Allah says in (104:3):

Verse 36:

"و ما أظن الساعة قائمة"

This is his second injustice. He doubts that the Day of Judgement will ever occur. Then he contradicts himself:

"و لئن رددت إلى ربي لاجدن خيرا منها منقلبا"

Your words make apparent the state of your heart and your thoughts. If you don't dismiss thoughts like this it will pave a path to your destruction. Don't allow yourself to be carried away with such thoughts.