ONE AYAT A DAY
وَّكَانَ لَهٗ ثَمَرٌۚ فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهٖ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهٗٓ اَنَا۠ اَكْثَرُ مِنْكَ مَالًا وَّاَعَزُّ نَفَرًا
Wa kāna lahū ṡamar(un), fa qāla liṣāḥibihī wa huwa yuḥāwiruhū ana akṡaru minka mālaw wa a‘azzu nafarā(n).
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."
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…