فَلَمَّا نَسُوا۟ مَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَٰبَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَرِحُوا۟ بِمَآ أُوتُوٓا۟ أَخَذْنَـٰهُم بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ 44
Translations
So when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [good] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were [then] in despair.
Transliteration
Falamma nasuu maa dhukkiru bihi fatahna alayhim abwaba kulli shay'in hatta idha farihu bima ootuu akhdhnahum baghtatan fa-idha hum mublisun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the pattern of divine punishment for those who forget the warnings they have been given: Allah grants them abundance and prosperity in all matters, but when they become heedless and rejoice in their material blessings, they are suddenly seized by punishment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a test of faith—worldly prosperity given to the heedless becomes a means of their destruction rather than blessing, demonstrating that forgetting Divine guidance inevitably leads to ruin.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am's broader discourse on the fate of those who reject Divine signs and turn away from prophetic guidance. The surah addresses the Meccan disbelievers' stubborn rejection despite clear evidence, illustrating the cyclical pattern of nations who receive blessings yet forget their Lord's message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those of my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.' (Sahih Bukhari 3650). Additionally, the Quran warns in Surah Al-'Araf 7:182 about a similar theme: 'Those who deny Our signs—We will gradually lead them to destruction through means they do not perceive.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that material abundance is a test of faith and gratitude, not a sign of Allah's approval if accompanied by forgetfulness of His message. True success lies in maintaining remembrance of Allah (dhikr) and His guidance regardless of worldly circumstances, for sudden loss of blessings can befall those who become arrogant and heedless.