وَإِذَآ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَـٰنِ أَعْرَضَ وَنَـَٔا بِجَانِبِهِۦ ۖ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ كَانَ يَـُٔوسًا 83
Translations
And when We bestow favor upon man [i.e., the disbeliever], he turns away and distances himself; and when evil touches him, he is ever despairing.
Transliteration
Wa-idha an'amna 'ala al-insani a'rada wa-na'a bi-janibihi, wa-idha massahu al-sharru kana ya'usa
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the inherent weakness and ingratitude of human nature: when blessed with favors from Allah, man turns away in arrogance and pride, but when afflicted with hardship, he falls into despair and hopelessness. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this depicts how humans oscillate between two extremes—forgetfulness of divine blessings and loss of faith during trials—reflecting a fundamental spiritual imbalance unless guided by divine wisdom and gratitude.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra, revealed in Mecca during a period of persecution against the early Muslim community. It appears in a section addressing human nature and behavior patterns, serving as a general description of mankind's tendency toward ingratitude and despair rather than describing any specific historical incident. The surah's broader context emphasizes the consequences of such behavior and the importance of steadfastness.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim (2999) records a hadith where the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned against despair, stating that no disease is worse than despair. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari (5641) contains teachings about gratitude and patience, emphasizing that believers should maintain balance in both states of ease and hardship.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to cultivate consistent gratitude during times of blessing and steadfast patience during trials, recognizing that these oscillations between pride and despair are natural human weaknesses that require conscious spiritual discipline and reliance upon Allah to overcome.
Related Ayahs
تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ ٱلسَّبْعُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا
The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allāh] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرًۢا بَصِيرًا
Indeed, your Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is ever, concerning His servants, Aware and Seeing.
قَالَ ٱذْهَبْ فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَآؤُكُمْ جَزَآءً مَّوْفُورًا
[Allāh] said, "Go, for whoever of them follows you, indeed Hell will be the recompense of [all of] you - an ample recompense.
مَّنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا
Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.