Surah Al-Kahf 18:35

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.

Dalam ayat ini Allah swt menerangkan bahwa ketika dia memasuki kebunnya bersama saudaranya, dia mengatakan kepada saudaranya yang mukmin, sambil menunjuk kebunnya, bahwa kebun-kebun itu tidak akan binasa selama-lamanya.

Ada dua sebab yang mendorongnya berkata demikian:

Pertama: Kepercayaan penuh terhadap kemampuan tenaga manusia untuk memelihara kebun-kebun itu, sehingga selamat dari kebinasaan. Dengan kekayaan berupa mas dan perak sebagai modal, dan sumber daya manusia yang berpengalaman dan berpengetahuan tentang perawatan dan pemeliharaan tanaman dan kebun, dia percaya sanggup menjaga kelestarian, keindahan, dan kesuburan kebun dan tanamannya. Ia sama sekali tidak menyadari keterbatasan daya dan akal sehat manusia dan tidak percaya bahwa ada kekuatan gaib yang kuasa berbuat sesuatu terhadap segala kekayaan itu.

Kedua: Kepercayaan akan keabadian alam dan zaman serta ketidak-percayaan terhadap hari kiamat. Dia berkeyakinan bahwa segala yang ada ini kekal abadi. Tidak ada yang akan musnah dari alam ini, yang terjadi hanyalah perubahan dan pergantian menurut hukum yang berlaku. Air, tumbuh-tumbuhan, tanah dan lain-lainnya akan terus tersedia dan tidak akan ada putusnya.

Demikianlah pandangan pemilik kebun itu. Sesungguhnya dia telah berbuat zalim dan tidak jujur terhadap dirinya sendiri. Seharusnya dia bersyukur kepada Allah yang telah memberikan segala kenikmatan kepadanya. Tidak ada seorangpun yang hidup bahagia dalam dunia ini dengan hanya berdiri di atas kaki sendiri, tanpa bantuan atau kerjasama dengan orang lain. Mengapa dia menyombongkan diri, padahal dia sebenarnya menyadarinya. Mengapa dia ingkar kepada Tuhan, padahal dia menyadari ikut terlibat dalam perubahan alam itu sendiri, mengapa dia tidak mau mengakui siapakah sebenarnya yang menciptakan semua perubahan dalam alam ini dan yang menciptakan hukum-hukumnya. Mengapa dia tidak jujur terhadap pengakuan hati nuraninya sendiri akan adanya Tuhan Yang Maha Pencipta? Sesungguhnya sikap demikian merupakan kezaliman yang besar.