Surah Kahf Tafseer Part 3 (Ayah 32-69)- The Man of Two Gardens (The Trial of Wealth)

32.

And present to them an example of two men: We granted/provided to one of them two gardens of grapevines, and We bordered them with palm trees and placed between them [fields of] crops.

Right after mentioning real Jannah, Allah mentions the story of someone who had Jannah on this earth and he became deceived by it and forgot that it is temporary.(YQ) “The world is a prison for the believer, and a paradise for the disbeliever.” (Hadith)

After mentioning the idolaters 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. The idolaters also did not accept the message of RasulAllah SAWW as they saw him as inferior to them. (IK)

This passage is about two muslim men who were neighbours, and one of them had plenty of assets and Allah dedicated ayahs to describe them in detail. Allah did not describe the assets of the other person because he didn't have much to be considered worth mentioning.

He had gardens of delicate grapevines and strong palm trees for protection bordered and fortified it. Hafafnaa means that the grapes were surrounded all round with palm trees. These two are from the most essential and luxurious fruits. The palm trees are like a fence, which protect the delicate grapevines from wind and other animals. It also had crops between them so every inch of his land was fertile and productive. He was generating revenue throughout the year as all his crops/fruits had different harvesting seasons.

Allah used the word jannah to make a comparison with the jannah of akhirah. (NAK)

Each of the two gardens produced its fruit and did not fall short thereof in anything. And We caused to gush forth within them a river.

Farming is very stressful because one has to work all the year and he only gets his return at the time of harvest (if it is not damaged by weather, pests, flooding etc)

These gardens would yield maximum output so there was never any loss. Ukulaha shows that everything produced was consumable and edible. Allah gave him the best quality AND quantity and protected his crops from all damage.

He didn't even need irrigation because a river naturally flowed between his gardens.(NAK)

And he had fruit, so he said to his companion while he was conversing with him, "I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in [numbers of] men."

Samar this word is used to denote the fruit of the tree and wealth of all kinds. This tells us that not only did he own gardens and farms, he also had gold, silver and

other luxuries. (MQ) It could also mean that he initiated this conversation at the time when he had fruit i.e. at the time of produce/harvest. (NAK)

Saahib is someone you accompany for a long period of time so the other man could be his neighbor or friend. He slipped this idea while having a regular conversation: `I have more wealth and more servants, attendants and children.'

Nafara could refer to his workforce and also to his family and children. Allah said throughout in the previous ayahs that WE gave him gardens and produce, but then he said I have so and so.

We have a habit of rubbing our wealth into each other's faces just to show our status, and we casually slip it in while having conversations. We even compete at weddings. We like to portray our worth through brands. We feel better when we get validation from others and by putting others down who are not as blessed. The wealthy people set unrealistic and unbeatable standards for those who are not as blessed, and make them feel miserable.  Success is not measured with your own personal record but it is constantly being compared with others success.

 (NAK)

And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself. He said, "I do not think that this will perish - ever.

 (And he went into his garden having been unjust to himself.) meaning, in his disbelief, rebellion, arrogance and denial of the Hereafter.(IK) In reality, he wronged his neighbor, but Allah emphasizes that he only wronged and harmed himself. (NAK)

Remember, Allah described Jannah with abada, and this man is assuming that his Jannah on earth will be abada, so he is deceived.

And I do not think the Hour will occur. And even if I should be brought back to my Lord, I will surely find better than this as a return."

He does not even want to think that there is an end to it and there is an afterlife. But even if he thinks about an afterlife, he thinks his wealth is a measure of his success and Allah's pleasure. BUT Allah clearly says that wealth is not a measure of Allah's happiness, rather it is a test from Allah. (NAK)

His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, "Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man?

Notice this man was silent when the man insulted him, because if he had spoken then it would have been because of his own ego. But when that man challenged Allah SWT, then he could no longer stay quiet.  At this point, he talked to him because he felt this person was becoming weak in faith.

Kufr does not only mean rejecting Allah but it also means ingratitude. The opposite of kufr is both imaan and shukr. (YQ)

So when they were having another conversation, he slipped the naseeha in. How could you be so thankless to the one who created you from dust and a drop of sperm? The point of mentioning this was to remind him of his origin to make him humble. You are made form dust although you dislike even if specks of dust fall on you. You are made from nutfa although you wouldn’t even want to touch it and you have to clean that najasah.  (YQ)

But as for me, He is Allah, my Lord, and I do not associate with my Lord anyone.

He goes on to say that I DO NOT ASSOCIATE ANYONE WITH MY LORD. Basically, he was doing naseeha to him but he did it with hikmat by giving his own example. He didn’t say Don’t do shirk!(NAK)

Who did he associate with Allah? Shirk is not necessarily in terms of idol worshiping. But shirk also means to associate your own nafs, your own self with Allah.  (YQ)

And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allah '? Although you see me less than you in wealth and children,

The man is reminding him that when he went back to his garden, he should have entered humbly and ascribed his blessings to Allah SWT. The righteous person did not merely respond with negative criticism, rather he advised him about the correct approach.

Shall I not tell you of a word which is one of the treasures of Paradise?' I said: 'Yes, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Say: La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no power and no strength except with Allah).'(Sunan Ibn Majah)

Hawl means change, and quwwah means power. So it means that no change or the power to execute change will come except from Allah. It is not a phrase to be recited only for calamities but it is a reminder that we associate all power to Allah and not to ourselves.

Whenever we feel arrogant regarding what we have, OR we feel hasad towards someone for something they have been blessed with, we should recite this to remind and protect ourselves. This is a means of cleansing our hearts from this self-delusion or discontentment. Allah despises kibr and it is a great sin.

One who has an atom’s weight of kibr will not enter Paradise. (Hadith)

In adhan, we say la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah in response to hayya alal falaah because the ability to stand and go to the masjid will not come to us unless Allah gives me the strength.  (YQ)

You should also say, MashaaAllah, barakAllahu laka(May Allah grant you more barakah) when you say it to someone else. It is a form of supplication.

The Messenger of Allah SAWW said, “The supplication of a Muslim for his brother in his absence will certainly be answered. Everytime he makes a supplication for good for his brother, the angel appointed for this particular task says: `Ameen! May it be for you, too’.” [Muslim].

Then he says that although YOU perceive me as having less than you, it may be that Allah will grant me better.(in this dunya or the akhirah). (YQ)

It may be that my Lord will give me [something] better than your garden and will send upon it a calamity from the sky, and it will become a smooth, dusty ground,

The apparent meaning is that it is a mighty rain/thunderbolt/fire etc sent as a calamity, which would disrupt his garden and uproot its plants and trees.  

Husbaana means punishment. Allah has not specified how exactly the garden was destroyed(then it will be as a barren slippery earth.) meaning, smooth mud in which one cannot get a foothold. (IK)

Or its water will become sunken [into the earth], so you would never be able to seek it."

It means, it disappears into the earth, which is the opposite of flowing water that seeks the surface of the earth.

And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises/supports, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone."

Everything collapsed on itself. His own palm trees, which were a means of protection, collapsed on his own gardens. The roof became the ground. (NAK)

(And he began Yuqallibu his hands over what he had spent upon it,) "He was clasping his hands together in a gesture of regret and grief for the wealth he had lost.'' (IK)

Regret or remorse after Allah’s final punishment is of no use. Even Firaun did taubah when he was drowning and saw Malak ul Maut and said ana minal muslimeen. But Allah said, NOW?

Till when drowning overtook him, he said: "I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims.'' Now! While you refused to believe before and you were one of the mischief-makers. (Surah Yunus 10:90-91) (IK)

And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah , nor could he defend himself.

No one could protect him when the punishment of Allah came. His workforce, his children and his family, nothing could help him.

There the Wilayah is [completely] for Allah, the Truth. He is best in reward and best in outcome.

Wilayah means rule, power, authority, kingdom, and allegiance. It could refer here to the Wilayah in akhirah when all believers and non-believers will show allegiance to Allah and accept His rule. (IK)

And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability.

Allah often gives the example of vegetation in Qur’an to show the temporary nature of this world. Vegetation is luscious but then it withers away and becomes dry and useless. We will also wither away just like vegetation.  When a person knows the haqeeqat of the dunya, they realize it's not even worth being arrogant about. (SK)

Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.(Surah Hadid 57:20)

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.

Allah does not negate the importance of these things but He emphasizes that good deeds are better in the sight of Allah and they will remain forever. Allah is saying they're EMBELLISHMENTS. What do embellishments do? They make life better, happier but they're not the PURPOSE of this life.

Money is always in our hearts no matter how old we are. But we only want children at a specific age in life, so that is why wealth is mentioned first.

Baaqiyat is mentioned first to place emphasis on the fact that good deeds remain while all else perishes. (Allah flipped the murakkab structure to place emphasis) (YQ)

Baaqiyat us Saalihaat could be:

The five daily prayers. The good words.(Ibn Abbas)

La ilaha illallah, Subhan Allah, Al-Hamdu Lillah, Allahu Akbar and La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah hil-`Aliyil-`Azim(Hazrat Uthman)

Ibn `Abbas said, "This is the celebration of the remembrance of Allah, saying `La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Subhan Allah, Al-Hamdu Lillah, Tabarak Allah, La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, Astaghfirallah, Sallallahu `ala Rasul-Allah', and fasting, prayer, Hajj, Sadaqah (charity), freeing slaves, Jihad, maintaining ties of kinship, and all other good deeds. These are the righteous good deeds that last, which will remain in Paradise for those who do them for as long as heaven and earth remain.'' (IK)

Sayyidnii 'Ali  said, 'Cultivation is of two kinds. Wealth and children

are the cash crops of the mortal world while 'everlasting virtues'

are the deferred crops of the Hereafter.' Hasan al-Basri said, 'Everlasting

virtues are one's intention as the acceptance of righteous deeds depends

on it.' (MQ)

And [warn of] the Day when We will remove the mountains and you will see the earth as a leveled plain, and We will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone.

Allah tells us that He will cause the mountains to vanish and be leveled, and the earth will be left as a smooth plain, a level surface with nothing crooked or curved therein, no valleys or mountains, meaning clear and open, with no features that anyone may recognize and nothing for anyone to hide behind. All creatures will be visible to their Lord, and not one of them will be hidden from Him. (IK)

When Allah will gather us on the day of Judgement, we will bring nothing of this world with us, and no wealth or children will be there with us. The only thing we will bring with us are our good deeds. (SK)

And they will be presented before your Lord in rows, [and He will say], "You have certainly come to Us just as We created you the first time. But you claimed that We would never make for you an appointment."

Jabir bin `Abdullah: Allah will gather the people -- or His servants -- on the Day of Resurrection, naked, uncircumcised and Buhman.) I asked, `What is Buhman' He said, They will have nothing with them.

Then a voice will call out to them that will be heard by those far away just as easily as it will be heard by those near: "I am the Sovereign, I am the Judge. None of the people of Hell should enter Hell if he is owed something by one of the people of Paradise, until I have settled the matter, and none of the people of Paradise should enter Paradise if he is owed something by one of the people of Hell, until I settle the matter -- even if it is only the case of a slap.'') We said, `How will that be, when we have come before Allah barefooted, naked, uncircumcised and having nothing with us' He said, (By merit for good deeds, and recompense for evil deeds.). (Musnad Ahmad)

Hazrat Aisha RA asked: “Is it that all men and women shall be naked, and seeing each other?' He said, "That day, everyone will be gripped by such preoccupation and anxiety that no one will have any occasion.”

Where is your maal and banoon? It’s all gone like the dust in the wind. Humans will be raised the way they were born, with no assets and nothing to reflect the status they enjoyed in this world. (YQ)

And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.

Mujrim means criminal. Anyone who denied Allah because of his arrogance is a criminal in the sight of Allah. Mujrim also includes the muslims who transgressed.

Mushfiqeen means people who are terrified of the consequences.

The literate and the illiterate will read this book, because WE are the authors of our own books. We are all the authors of a book we will read on the Day of judgement.  They will be angry and shocked at seeing their books. What is this book that hasn’t left a single thing out? This book doesn't omit, or deceive/betray ("ghadar").

Ahsaw means to write in meticulous detail. The book will mention every single act. Everyone will be handed over their own books to read them. (YQ)

[It will be said], "Read your record. Sufficient is yourself against you this Day as accountant." (17:14)

They will find the recompense of their deeds present there. Another interpretation is that these very deeds of the mortal world will become the recompense - reward or punishment - of the Hereafter. Their forms will transform there. Righteous deeds will transform into the blessings of Paradise and evil deeds will turn into the Hell-fire,

snakes and scorpions. For example, It appears in ahadith that the wealth of those who do not pay zakah will come to them in the grave in the form of a big snake. I am your wealth (MQ)

And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord. Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the wrongdoers as an exchange.

After mentioning the end of times, Allah takes us back to the beginning where it all started. We all had tawheed in our fitrah.

Allah mentions the story of iblees to show us how kibr misguided iblees. In the previous verses we saw examples of kibr: the man who was arrogant about his wealth, and the mushrikeen who didn't want to sit next to the poor Sahaba. The reason Iblees didn't bow down to Adam was because he had takabbur, since he thought Adam was a lower life form than himself. The root of all evil is arrogance and the root of all goodness is humility. Whenever we show kibr, we imitate iblees. Whenever we disobey Allah SWT, we choose to follow the sunnah of iblees. Iblees DID believe in Allah but he chose to disobey him. He wasn’t of those who rejected Allah.  When we have love of dunya, it makes us arrogant, and it makes us fall into the footsteps of Iblees. (SK)

`A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that the Messenger of Allah said: The angels were created from light, Iblis was created from smokeless fire (Muslim)

Iblis used to do what the angels did and resembled them in their devotion and worship, so he was included when they were addressed, but he disobeyed and went against what he was told to do. So Allah points out here that he was one of the Jinn, i.e., he was created from fire. (I am better than he. You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.)﴿38:76

Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, "Iblis was not one of the angels, not even for a second. He was the origin of the Jinn just as Adam, upon him be peace, was the origin of mankind.''

Fisq (disobeying) implies going out or stepping beyond. When the date emerges from its flower, the verb used in Arabic is Fasaqat; the same verb is used to describe a mouse coming out of its hole when it comes out to do damage. (IK)

There are descendants/armies/accomplices of Iblees who misguide people and do waswasas. It is said that every descendant of Iblees is assigned a different task. Will you take him and his progeny as allies instead of Allah? He was the one who hated and envied you from the time of your creation. Do you really think he will be sincere and loyal to you now? Zulm means to take something out of its place. Allah is the most deserving of you taking Him as a friend, but you chose Shaytan as an ally, that's Zulm. The sign of a person who's an oppressor is that he is substituting Friendship of Allah with friendship of Shaytan. (SK)

Uthman b. Abu al-'As reported that he came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said:

Allah's Messenger, the Satan intervenes between me and my prayer and my reciting of the Qur'an and he confounds me. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:, That is (the doing of a) Satan (devil) who is known as Khinzab, and when you perceive its effect, seek refuge with Allah from it and spit three times to your left. I did that and Allah dispelled that from me. (Muslim)

I did not make them witness to the creation of the heavens and the earth or to the creation of themselves, and I would not have taken the misguiders as helpers.

The Quraysh said that these idols like alaat and uzza are Allah’s helpers. Allah clarifies that they are not Allah’s helpers. Allah is not in need of any help, and even if for the sake of argument, Allah needed helpers, he wouldn’t choose such misguided people as helpers. They did not even witness the creation, then how could they have any power to help the creation or have any authority over their affairs? (YQ)

Say, [O Muhammad], "Invoke those you claim [as deities] besides Allah." They do not possess an atom's weight [of ability] in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant.(Saba 34:22)

Allah says, `I am the One Who independently and exclusively creates and controls all things, and I have no partner, associate or advisor in that.' (IK)

And [warn of] the Day when He will say, "Call 'My partners' whom you claimed," and they will invoke them, but they will not respond to them. And We will put between them [a valley of] destruction.

They will call their lords on the day of judgement as they used to call them in this world. Allah mocks them because they will not get a response.

And We shall put Mawbiq between them. "Destruction.'' The meaning is that Allah is stating that these idolators will have no way of reaching the gods they claimed in this world. He will separate them in the Hereafter and neither party will have any means of reaching the other. There will be devastation, great horrors and other terrible things in between them.  (IK)

Another interpretation is that `Abdullah bin `Amr understood the pronoun in the phrase "between them" to refer to the believers and the disbelievers, meaning that the people of guidance and the people of misguidance will be separated. (IK)

 And the criminals will see the Fire and will be certain that they are to fall therein. And they will not find from it a way elsewhere.

They will not find anything to save them from the fire of Hell. They will not find a way out (masrifaa)

 And We have certainly diversified in this Qur'an for the people from every [kind of] example; but man has ever been more quarrelsome than anything.

Allah uses the same verb here sarafa. Allah says sarrafna which means that the way out for people on the day of Qiyamah is through the Quran, and not through anything else. Sarrafna means to show through a variety of means or to clarify.

Mankind has busied itself in argumentation only. The believer should have the attitude of “Sami’na wa ata’na” and “Those who believe in the unseen”. Allah discourages argumentation because truth is clear from error and excessive philosophical thinking is merely a waste of time. Allah does encourage us to think and ask questions, but to ask questions with sincerity and not with skepticism and criticism. (SK)

Anas b. Malik reported:

We were in the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) when he smiled, and said: Do you know why I laughed? We said: Allah and His Messenger, know best. Then he said: It was because (there came to my mind the) talk which the servant would have with his Lord (on the Day of judgment). He would say: My Lord, have you not guaranteed me protection against injustice? He would say: Yes. Then the servant would say: I do not deem valid any witness against me but my own self, and He would say: Well, enough would be the witness of your self against you and that of the two angels who had been appointed to record your deeds. Then the seal would be set upon his mouth and it would be said to his hands and feet to speak and they would speak of his deeds. Then the mouth would be made free to talk, he would say (to the hands and feet): Be away, let there be curse of Allah upon you. (Muslim)

 And nothing has prevented the people from believing when guidance came to them, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord, except that there [must] befall them the [accustomed] precedent of the former peoples or that the punishment should come [directly] before them.

They will not believe until one of the two things happen: sunnatul awwaleen(the destruction that came to previous nations because of their arrogance) or the punishment will come to them directly face to face i.e. through death or the day of Judgement.

Allah says why didn’t they ask me for forgiveness? This emphasizes the importance of Istighfar. When a person turns to Allah, Allah gives them another chance no matter how big their sin is.

And We send not the messengers except as bringers of good tidings and warners. And those who disbelieve dispute by [using] falsehood to [attempt to] invalidate thereby the truth and have taken My verses, and that of which they are warned, in ridicule.

Jahannum and Jannah are always paired together in Quran. Allah always mentions them together to maintain the balance between both hope and fear. Those who reject the truth make argumentation and do mujaadala by using baatil/falsehood.  They invent false logic to reject the clear truth. (YQ)

And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord but turns away from them and forgets what his hands have put forth? Indeed, We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if you invite them to guidance - they will never be guided, then - ever.

Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations)

Allah says who does more wrong than the one who was shown the signs but still turned away? The one who has been exposed to the truth and Allah’s signs, and still turned away, will have no excuse. Allah's saying a person is unjust/oppressive, meaning to their own souls, because they ignored the advice of the Quran, the verses from Allah.

They persistently showed arrogance so Allah put a seal on their hearts.

Akinnah: a veil, but also a cover that goes on top(like a canopy/umbrella, a cover that protects from rain.) Allah says We have put a cover on the heart so that the mercy/rain/blessings which come from the heavens doesn’t reach their heart. Such a person could be attending a beautiful talk of the Quran, or hearing a beautiful recitation where it's practically raining Rahmah, but the noor and barakah cannot reach their heart because of the canopy over it.

 Allah does not deliberately misguide anyone but He tries to bring hidayah through every possible means. When we insist in our ways, then Allah lets us have our way. (SK)

And your Lord is the Forgiving, full of mercy. Were He to call them to account for what they earned, He would have hastened for them the punishment. Rather, for them is an appointment from which they will never find an escape.

Then Allah goes on to say that He will be exceedingly forgiving if someone seeks forgiveness.

On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: Allah the Almighty said: O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it. (Tirmidhi)

In these passages, it has been reinforced that Allah has a plan for everything. All human beings will know on the Day of Judgement that every little and big thing was accounted for and nothing went unnoticed by Allah. Allah’s justice is completely perfect and absolute.

But the problem that most people have is why things happen the way they do – why do bad things happening to good people? Why are Muslims suffering in this way? Why doesn’t the help of Allah come? Why doesn’t Allah intervene? This is THE answer. Allah does not hasten the punishment but gives people time to think about their actions and repent. If Allah were to be fair, then the punishment would come straight away but Allah has kept an appointed time.  Allah will not precipitate the punishment just because we are impatient.  Allah has infinite wisdom and knowledge. This world is not about perfect justice; the next world is. We cannot just believe in the seen world, but we must also believe in the unseen.

Absolute justice in this life is not possible, even with Qisas. Every debit will be credited, and every credit will be debited in the afterlife. In our faith, we have a dependence and tawakkul on Allah’s mercy and justice. When we see evil deeds done in the world, we know that Allah will give them their full recompense. Allah’s perfect justice is directly associated in the Quran with His creation of the akhirah. (NAK)

Mau-ila= one of the many words in Arabic for "refuge". This means a type of shelter where animals are gathered for protection or hiding, like a stable/barn. We cannot find a place of refuge on the Day of Judgment, and the word being used here is that for a sanctuary for animals. So, in our fright and panic, we'll be like animals on that day.

And those cities - We destroyed them when they wronged, and We made for their destruction an appointed time.