The Two Gardens

Ever heard of the story of the two gardens in Surah Al-Kahf? It's one of the gems in the Qur'an. The story is rather vague at first, for the way the two neighbors communicate to each other. But as I listen to Nouman Ali Khan, an Islamic scholar from Texas, US, it began making sense.

The story began by God's description of the first garden which is so abundantly fruitful and how palm trees circles its perimeter and river flows its midst. The second garden however, is far less beneath. The owner of the rich garden puffs up him self to his poor neighbor, being so certain that it will never perish, ever. Because of his doing, God vanishes his garden and left him nothing.

How does this story relate to me? Well, there are two connections. Firstly, as an employee, I know very well the situation inside the heart: cash-in every month is a certain; the garden is pleasantly giving. God is almost never again asked for money to live. Forget to ask, forget to thank. Puffed up.

Secondly, the way the two farmers talk to each other. In the Qur'an, the rich would boast him self blatantly. This is where I got confused. Why such wordings? Well it could be true in some ways, but in our daily lives, people may not do that obviously. This is Mr. Khan explanation. People boast subtly, there's no clue that they're boasting, but you can actually feel it. That "I'm luckier than you" kinda saying, or that "I'm in better rank". It's a submerged message, and this happens very often in my every day life. If not me, then somebody else does.

The story of the two gardens is very much a template of our situation when someone makes pride of himself, forgetting completely that whatever in his hands is but a gift from Allah.

May Allah have mercy on us.

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