Surah Al-Kahf 18:34

The Example of the Rich Idolators and the Poor Muslims

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:

(Each of those two gardens brought forth its produce,) meaning, produced its fruits,

(and failed not in the least therein,) meaning, nothing at all was diminishing.

(and We caused a river to gush forth in the midst of both.) means, rivers were flowing through them here and there.

(And he had Thamar,) 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

(to his companion in the course of discussion) means, while he was disputing with him and boasting to him and showing off,

(I am greater than you in wealth and have a mightier entourage.) 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. R

(And he went into his garden having been unjust to himself.) meaning, in his disbelief, rebellion, arrogance and denial of the Hereafter.

(He said: "I do not think this will ever perish.") 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:

("And I do not think the Hour will ever come...") meaning, will ever happen

(and if indeed I am brought back to my Lord, I surely shall find better than this when I return to Him.) 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

(Have you seen him who disbelieved in Our Ayat and said: "I shall certainly be given wealth and children if I will be alive again).")19:77 He took it for granted that Allah would give him this, without any sound evidence for that. The reason why this Ayah was revea- led 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.

Allah swt menjelaskan dalam ayat ini bahwa pemilik kebun itu masih memiliki kekayaan lain berupa harta perdagangan emas, perak, dan lain-lainnya yang diperoleh dari penjualan hasil kebun dan ladang. Qurthus benar-benar berada dalam kehidupan yang mewah, dengan harta kekayaan yang melimpah ruah, dan memiliki pembantu-pembantu, buruh-buruh, dan pengawal-pengawal dalam jumlah yang besar. Keadaan yang demikian membuat dirinya sombong dan ingkar kepada Tuhan yang memberikan nikmat itu kepadanya. Dia berkata kepada temannya yang beriman, yang sebelumnya telah menyeru kepadanya agar beriman kepada Allah dan hari kebangkitan, "Aku mempunyai harta yang lebih banyak daripada kamu, seperti yang kamu saksikan, dan pengikut-pengikutku lebih banyak. Sewaktu-waktu mereka siap mempertahankan diri dan keluargaku dari musuh-musuhku, serta memelihara dan membela hartaku." Dengan perkataan ini, dia mengisyaratkan bahwa seseorang dapat hidup bahagia dan jaya tanpa beriman kepada Tuhan seru sekalian alam. Dia beranggapan bahwa segala kejayaan yang dimilikinya dan kenikmatan yang diperolehnya semata-mata berkat kemampuan dirinya. Tiada Tuhan yang dia rasakan turut membantu dan memberi rezeki dan kenikmatan kepadanya.