ONE AYAT A DAY
۞ وَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ مَّثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِاَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ اَعْنَابٍ وَّحَفَفْنٰهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَّجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعًاۗ
Waḍrib lahum maṡalar rajulaini ja‘alnā li'aḥadihimā jannataini min a‘nābiw wa ḥafafnāhumā binakhliw wa ja‘alnā bainahumā zar‘ā(n).
And present to them an example of two men: We granted to one of them two gardens of grapevines, and We bordered them with palm trees and placed between them [fields of] crops.
The Example of the Rich Idolators and the Poor MuslimsAfter 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:كِلْتَا الْجَنَّتَيْنِ آتَتْ أُكُلَهَا(Each of those two gardens brought forth its produce,) meaning, produced its fruits,وَلَمْ تَظْلِمِ مِّنْهُ شَيْئًا(and failed not in the least therein,) meaning, nothing at all was diminishing.وَفَجَّرْنَا خِلَـلَهُمَا نَهَراً(and We caused a river to gush forth in the midst of both.) means, rivers were flowing through them here and there.وَكَانَ لَهُ ثَمَرٌ(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.فَقَالَ(and he said) the owner of the two gardensلَصَـحِبِهِ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ(to his companion in the course of discussion) means, while he was disputing with him and boastin…