فَإِذَا مَسَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ ضُرٌّ دَعَانَا ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلْنَـٰهُ نِعْمَةً مِّنَّا قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُۥ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍۭ ۚ بَلْ هِىَ فِتْنَةٌ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 49
Translations
And when adversity touches man, he calls upon Us; then when We bestow on him a favor from Us, he says, "I have only been given it because of [my] knowledge." Rather, it is a trial, but most of them do not know.
Transliteration
Fa-idha massa al-insana durrun da'ana, thumma idha khawwalna-hu ni'matan minna qala innama ooteetuhu 'ala 'ilm. Bal hiya fitnatun wa-lakin aktharahum la ya'lamun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the spiritual inconsistency of many humans who turn to Allah in desperate supplication during hardship, yet when blessed with prosperity, they arrogantly attribute their wealth to their own knowledge and merit rather than Allah's grace. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse exposes human ingratitude and the deceptive nature of wealth and status as divine tests (fitna), warning that most people lack the wisdom to recognize these trials for what they truly are.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Az-Zumar, a Meccan surah that addresses fundamental Islamic beliefs about monotheism, resurrection, and human nature. It reflects the general Meccan theme of critiquing polytheistic attitudes and human tendency toward arrogance when blessed, contextualizing the spiritual challenges faced by early Muslims in pre-Islamic Arabia.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), relating to gratitude and proper conduct. Also relevant: 'Wealth and children are adornments of life, but the everlasting good deeds are far better' (Quran 18:46, with supporting hadith traditions on the fleeting nature of worldly blessings).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to maintain consistent faith and humility whether in difficulty or abundance, recognizing that both trials and blessings are divine tests meant to refine our character. It serves as a reminder to attribute all success to Allah's will and wisdom rather than personal achievement, and to guard against the spiritual arrogance that material prosperity can breed.
Related Ayahs
قَدْ قَالَهَا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَمَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
Those before them had already said it, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.
أَوْ تَقُولَ حِينَ تَرَى ٱلْعَذَابَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِى كَرَّةً فَأَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
Or [lest] it say when it sees the punishment, "If only I had another turn so I could be among the doers of good."
إِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنكُمْ ۖ وَلَا يَرْضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ ٱلْكُفْرَ ۖ وَإِن تَشْكُرُوا۟ يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
If you disbelieve - indeed, Allāh is Free from need of you. And He does not approve for His servants disbelief. And if you are grateful, He approves [i.e., likes] it for you; and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you about what you used to do. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
قُلْ أَفَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ تَأْمُرُوٓنِّىٓ أَعْبُدُ أَيُّهَا ٱلْجَـٰهِلُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Is it other than Allāh that you order me to worship, O ignorant ones?"