Al-Kahf (The Cave)

42. “And his fruits were enwrapped (into destruction), so he began wringing his hands for what he had expended in it, and it was fallen down upon its trellises, and he was saying: ‘Alas me! Would I had not associated with my Lord any one!’”

43. “And he had no troop to help him as against (the wrath of) Allah, nor could he help himself.”

44. “Thereover protection belongs only to Allah, the True; He is best rewarding, and best for consequence.”

Finally, the debate of those two men ended and the faithful man had got no penetration in the depth of the soul of that proud, faithless rich man who, with the same spirituality and doctrine, went back home.

He was unaware that the command of Allah had been issued that his green gardens and cultivations to be perished. He should receive the retribution of his pride and infidelity in this very world, in order that his end would become as a gazing-stock and a warning to others.

Perhaps it was at the same moment that the darkness of night had covered everywhere when the punishment of Allah, in the form of a destructive thunderbolt, or a terrible violate storm, or a horrible ruinous earthquake, in a short time, destroyed whatever there were in those pleasant gardens which contained so many fruitful tall trees, and fructified cultivations.

The verse says:

“And his fruits were enwrapped (into destruction)…”

The Arabic term /’uhit/ is from the root /’ihatah/ which, in such instances, means ‘an encompassing punishment’, the result of which is a complete destruction.

In the next morning, when the owner of the garden, with a series of desires and imaginations, went toward his garden in order to visit it and enjoy its products, approaching it, he encountered a dreadful scene, so terrible that his mouth dried because of wonder and his eyes became dim and motionless.

He could not know that he was observing that scene in dream or in vigilance. The trees had utterly dropped on the ground, the cultivations had became upside down, and there was seen little of life therein.

As if there were no pleasant garden and green tillage there. The doleful moans of owls were heard in its ruins. The man’s heart started its palpitation sharply, and his face grew pale. The saliva dried in his mouth, and whatever of pride and arrogance was in his heart and his mind suddenly dispersed.

As if he had got up from a long and deep sleep. He was thinking of the heavy expenses he had earned from every side in his lifetime and had expended in it.

The verse says:

“…so he began wringing his hands for what he had expended in it, and it was fallen down upon its trellises…”

It was just in the same time that he regreted from his false and futile statements and thoughts.

The verse continues saying:

“…and he was saying: ‘Alas me! Would I had not associated with my Lord any one!’”

More lamentable than this it was that, at the time of confronting this calamity, he was perfectly alone and had no one to help him for this great damage and grievous affliction.

The verse says:

“And he had no troop to help him as against (the wrath of) Allah…”

He had not anything to substitute that, which was his whole capital.

The verse continues saying:

“…nor could he help himself.”

In fact, in this event all his arrogant imaginations disturbed and proved to be nonsensical. On one side, he used to say that he never believed that his great capital and abundant wealth would have an annihilation, but he saw its annihilation with his own eyes.

On the other side, he arrogantly boasted to his faithful monotheistic companion and said that he was more powerful than him from the point of wealth and men. But, after this event, he observed that none was his helper.

On the third side, he depended on his own power and considered his ability illimitable. But, after that he became in lack of everything in that event, he comprehended his great mistake, because he had nothing in his disposal to compensate a part of that great damage.

Principally, those companions who, like flies around a candy, come nigh to a person because of his property and wealth whom the person considers as a support for his days of misfortune, will scatter when that bounty vanishes, because their friendship has not formed as a spiritual approach, but it has been based on material support. When it vanishes, that friendship vanishes, too.

However, it was too late for him to be remorseful. This kind of compulsory vigilance, which appears at the time of befalling some grievous calamities upon a person, even for the Pharaohs, is worthless and, therefore, it is not useful for him, either.

Yes, it was at the same time that he stated the phrase:

“Would I had not associated with my Lord any one!’”

by his own tongue. It was the same phrase that his faithful companion had said before, but he said it when he was in safety, and this man said it at the time of misfortune.

It was at that moment that this fact was proved once again that protection, guardianship and Power belong to Allah, the Lord Who is the Truth Himself.

The verse says:

“Thereover protection belongs only to Allah, the True…”

Yes, here it was made perfectly clear that all bounties belong to Him, and whatever He wills, it will be done. So, there will be performed nothing save by relying on His grace. Verily, it is only He Who has the best rewards and provides the best end and fate for the obedient.

The verse continues saying:

“…He is best rewarding, and best for consequence.”

Thus, if a person wants to attach some and to rely on him and to be hopeful to his reward, it is better for him that his support to be Allah, and his attachment and his hope to be unto the grace and kindness of the Lord.

But, O’ Man! How do you want to be the best in the world, while you tread the clearest laws of the world of creation; allocate all merits to yourself, and devour the right of others?