What kind of a mindset and ethical behaviour does an all-engrossing and blinding worldliness breed, is the thrust of the parable of the owner of two gardens which follows the story of the Men of the Cave in surah al-Kahf. A certain person possesses two very fertile and productive gardens which yield their produce to their fullest potential, as natural causes turn favourable. It does not merely lead to the material enrichment of the owner but the pleasant sight of the beauty and grandeur of the gardens gratifies his aesthetic sense as well. But this is the end of his world. He does not care for anything beyond this. The mesh of cause and effect and mirage of mere appearance hold him in thrall. He believes that all his plenty is the result of his knowledge, expertise and careful planning only. The result is that he becomes puffed up with pride and tells his relatively poor neighbour that he is superior to him in position. His humble neighbour replies that all worldly possessions are transitory and should not delude us. We should not take our present affluent position for granted and forget that things can turn topsy-turvy at any moment. In any case we should never forget that this world’s life is ephemeral while the after-life is everlasting, and genuine success is his who succeeds in the after-life. The proud owner of the gardens mocks at what he considers to be the stupidity of his neighbour telling him that after-life is a myth and that even if it is there, the Creator will reward him even as he has rewarded him now. Allah’s judgement appears in the form of blight and drought and the two gardens are annihilated in a way as if they never existed.
Where do we stand in the light of this highly significant parable which, as a part of surah al-Kahf, was declared by the Prophet (SAW) to be vitally relevant to our times. On the whole the world seems to have become the pivot of all human activity today – individual as well as collective. Appearance and the complex mesh of the chain of causes holds everything in trap. This does not determine only the civilizational movement and governmental planning but also individual attitude and behaviour as well as social relationships. As the Quran clearly implies it is not necessary to give verbal utterance to the assertion that ‘I am wealthier and therefore mightier than you.’ The character of a person, a force or a nation can proclaim it more loudly than words.
As the account of the parable clearly states, this mindset is not characteristic of disbelievers only. A person with flimsy and nominal faith may also possess the same kind of mindset and behaviour. The owner of the gardens does refer to his belief in “my Lord” and yet he is swollen with egotism and pride. As long as God does not occupy the centre of our existence, mere affirmation of lifeless faith in Him cannot prove effective.
The right approach to the world in the light of this parable and surah al-Kahf, indeed in the light of the whole of holy Quran is this:
This world is a world that usually works under the law of cause and effect. We have to suitably adjust our behaviour to this law in order to run the business of life. Ways and means have to be carefully sought and adopted towards achieving our goals. Planning has to be undertaken and undertaken seriously. But the ultimate trust has to be reposed not in the causes but in the Causer of causes, not in the plans but in the final Disposer of the plans. Then if our efforts fail we remain contented knowing that somebody else disposes affairs; if they succeed and yield results, we do not feel puffed up but exclaim humbly: ma sha Allah la quwwata illa bi-Allah (Whatever: Allah wills, happens; all power rests with Allah: 18:39).

Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST