ثُمَّ إِذَا كَشَفَ ٱلضُّرَّ عَنكُمْ إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنكُم بِرَبِّهِمْ يُشْرِكُونَ 54
Translations
Then when He removes the adversity from you, at once a party of you associates others with their Lord
Transliteration
Thumma idha kashafa adh-dhurra ankum idha fariqun minkum bi-rabbihim yushrikun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the ingratitude and hypocrisy of those who, when afflicted with hardship, call upon Allah alone in desperation, but once He removes the calamity, they return to associating partners with Him in worship and gratitude. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this reflects the weakness of human nature and the tendency to forget divine blessings; Al-Qurtubi notes this demonstrates how some people's faith is conditional upon worldly circumstances rather than being rooted in sincere conviction.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nahl's broader discussion of human nature and Allah's signs in creation. The surah was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Quraysh were rejecting monotheism despite witnessing Allah's blessings and their own desperate calls to Him during times of distress, particularly during sea voyages and hardships.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The closest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is in prostration, so increase your supplications while prostrating' (Sahih Muslim 482). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever is grateful, I will increase him; and whoever is ungrateful, indeed My punishment is severe' (Quran 14:7) relates thematically to the ingratitude described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a profound reminder that true faith must be consistent and sincere during both hardship and ease; believers should cultivate gratitude and monotheistic devotion at all times, recognizing that relying solely on Allah during calamity while forgetting Him during prosperity reveals a fundamental weakness in spiritual conviction that requires conscious reform.