Tafseer of Surah Kahf verses 32-44: The Parable of the Two Men

Bismillahirahmanirrahim,

Using the translation and notes by Sayyid Abul A’la Mawdudi

The story is not specific and very brief but its message is powerful.

Motives and objectives behind the actions of the first person who speaks in the verses: Pride and arrogance upon worldly wealth, looking down upon and belittling the poor believers on account of their poverty

But in these verses Allah (SWT) destroys the grandeur of worldly wealth and elevates the status of faith. The story also not only rebukes the believers who fail to attribute the blessings they have to Allah(SWT) but also helps the poor believer by making them realise that they should not be upset over their poverty but rather express gratitude for what they have already acquired in this world and even the “little” blessings.

In verses 32-33 The Scene is set : two gardens of grape-vines, and we had encircled the two gardens with date-palms, meaning the fence was comprising of date-palms; and We had also placed between the two gardens a field of crops. Both gardens brought forth abundant produce, and there was no decrease in the fruit of either.

Showing what these two man had in their possession. But as parables go we must understand that this is meant to show wealth and blessings and abundance which is provided by Allah (SWT). We should immediately shift our perspectives to our own lives today, what are the elements which show abundance and wealth? A beautiful home, being well-off, many children? There are countless blessings that we have. This is the scene that is set.

In verses 34-36 The statement is made by the proud protagonist about his abundance.

There can be no doubt that his comments came from a foundation of pride since he covered three things…

1. I have greater wealth than you and I am stronger than you in numbers (children)
2. Surely I do not believe that all this will ever perish
3. Nor do I believe that the hour of Resurrection will come to pass
4. And even if I am returned to my Lord, I shall find a better place than this.

The first two statements are obviously statements of pride, but the second and third statements also share an element of the renunciation of one of the articles of faith which is Believing in the Day of Judgment. The fourth statement coming from this is one of arrogance not towards just his neighbour but towards Allah(SWT) and believing himself to be a “favoured” person, the chosen one.

His belief of this seems to stem from what he sees he currently he has and instead of being grateful for the blessings he has received from Allah(SWT), he thinks “look at how much I have, this must mean I am favoured and chosen and therefore, better than others.”

Verses 37-41 The Rebuke – The reply by the neighbour is in the form of questioning to make the arrogant person think and ponder about his situation and blessings as well as being a form of advice (naseeha) to put him back on the straight path.

The neighbours replies take the following form:

1. Do you deny Him Who created you out of dust then out of a drop of sperm, then fashioned you into a complete man?
2. As for myself, Allah alone is my Lord, and I associate none with my Lord in His Divinity.
3. When you entered your vineyard why did you not say: “Whatever Allah wills shall come to pass, for there is no power save with Allah!” If you find me less than yourself in wealth and children
4. It may be well that my Lord will give me something better than your vineyard, and send a calamity upon your vineyard from the heavens and it will be reduced to a barren waste.
5. Or the water of your vineyard will be drained deep into the ground so that you will not be able to seek it out.

Statement 1 the neighbour is questioning the man on a fundamental belief in Islam and notice he is mentioning the stages of him being created. One can allude to the example of the garden itself which is grounded in dust and from which came a beautiful garden, similarly man was created in the same fashion.

Statement 2 the neighbour comes back to himself and his point of view, one, because the man had initially put the man down with his arrogance claiming superiority over him and, two, to show the arrogant man the right state of mind in which to view his abundance. This is a form of naseeha, showing that he was not affected by what the man had said to him and pointing out that he attributes all that he has to Allah.

Statement 3 follows on from statement two as a form of naseeha because he asks and tells the man what the appropriate response should have been to his acknowledgement of his abundance (“Ma sha Allah, la quwwata ila billah”) and on comparing himself with his neighbour (even if his neighbour had less.

Statement 4 and 5 the neighbour points out the ephemeral nature of this world and the fact things can change in the blink of an eye. However, he makes this point known in specific detail as to what could happen to either of their gardens in the future and using plausible examples. This also ties in to the arrogant man’s statements on the Day of Judgment not coming (May Allah protest us) and blatant arrogance and confidence over his wealth and abundance never decreasing in future, in both this world and the next.

42-44 Consequence and Moral of the story

Verse 42 - The man’s garden was destroyed by a calamity, and the man immediately sees his folly and wrings his hands in desperation and utter hopelessness saying “Would I had not associated anyone with my Lord in His Divinity” using the exact wording which his neighbour had initially used.

Verses 43 and 44 are an explanation and conclusion by Allah(SWT) on the situation and the verses speak for themselves..

43 – And there was no host, beside Allah, to help him, nor could he be of any help to himself.

44 – (Then he knew) that all power of protection rests with Allah, the True One,. He is the best to reward, the best to determine the end of things.

Mawdudi’s notes from his translation state on this story…

“Whatever God alone wills comes to pass, for man does not have the power to make things happen according to his wishes. Whatever man does is only by God’s aid and support.”