وَلَئِنْ أَرْسَلْنَا رِيحًا فَرَأَوْهُ مُصْفَرًّا لَّظَلُّوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ يَكْفُرُونَ 51
Translations
But if We should send a [bad] wind and they saw [their crops] turned yellow, they would remain thereafter disbelievers.
Transliteration
Wa la-in arsalna rihan fa-ra'awhu musfarran la-zallū min ba'dihi yakfurūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah illustrates human ingratitude and the tendency to disbelief when faced with adversity. Allah describes a scenario where if He sends a wind that turns crops yellow (indicating damage or drought), people persist in disbelief despite previously witnessing Allah's blessings. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize this as an example of how mankind's gratitude is conditional on continuous prosperity, and how quickly people abandon faith when trials come, demonstrating the weakness of their belief and the instability of human hearts.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Ar-Rum's broader discussion of signs (ayat) in creation and human nature, contrasting believers' responses to divine signs with the ingratitude of disbelievers. The surah was revealed in Mecca and addresses the polytheists' rejection of monotheism despite the clear evidence of Allah's power in nature. This specific verse uses agricultural imagery familiar to the Arabian context to highlight how quickly people abandon gratitude.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The strongest believer is the one who is patient in calamity and gratitude in blessing.' This complements the ayah's criticism of those who lack steadfastness in faith during hardship.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith must be unwavering regardless of circumstances—prosperity or hardship—and that believers should cultivate constant gratitude and patience rather than making their submission to Allah dependent on worldly ease. It serves as a reminder to examine our own hearts and ensure our faith is rooted in conviction, not merely in the comfort of our circumstances.