لَّا يَسْـَٔمُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مِن دُعَآءِ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَإِن مَّسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ فَيَـُٔوسٌ قَنُوطٌ 49
Translations
Man is not weary of supplication for good [things], but if evil touches him, he is hopeless and despairing.
Transliteration
Lā yasamul-insānu min duʿāʾil-khayri wa-in massahu ash-sharru fayaʾūsun qanūṭ
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the nature of human disposition: man never tires of praying for and seeking good, yet when afflicted with hardship, he becomes despondent and loses all hope. Ibn Kathir explains this reflects the human tendency toward ingratitude and impatience—quick to ask for blessings but quick to despair when tested. Al-Qurtubi notes this ayah highlights a fundamental character flaw in those who lack true faith and trust in Allah's wisdom, as believers understand that trials are temporary and serve divine purposes.
Revelation Context
Surah Fussilat is a Meccan surah revealed during a period when the Prophet faced intense opposition and rejection from the Quraysh. This ayah is part of a broader thematic discussion about human nature and the characteristics of those who reject faith. It reflects the Meccan period's emphasis on understanding human psychology and the consequences of spiritual negligence.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sin is despair of Allah's mercy' (reported by various scholars as a principle of Islamic teaching). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever enters into despair has disbelieved in Allah's mercy' relates to the theme of qunūṭ (despair) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to cultivate patience and trust in Allah during hardships, recognizing that despair is a spiritual disease that contradicts true faith. We should strive to maintain the same eagerness in seeking Allah's help during trials as we do in seeking His blessings, understanding that both prosperity and adversity are divine tests meant to purify our souls.
Related Ayahs
وَيَوْمَ يُحْشَرُ أَعْدَآءُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], the Day when the enemies of Allāh will be gathered to the Fire while they are [driven], assembled in rows,
وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَدْعُونَ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَظَنُّوا۟ مَا لَهُم مِّن مَّحِيصٍ
And lost from them will be those they were invoking before, and they will be certain that they have no place of escape.
۞ إِلَيْهِ يُرَدُّ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ ۚ وَمَا تَخْرُجُ مِن ثَمَرَٰتٍ مِّنْ أَكْمَامِهَا وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِۦ ۚ وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِى قَالُوٓا۟ ءَاذَنَّـٰكَ مَا مِنَّا مِن شَهِيدٍ
To Him [alone] is attributed knowledge of the Hour. And fruits emerge not from their coverings nor does a female conceive or give birth except with His knowledge. And the Day He will call to them, "Where are My 'partners'?" they will say, "We announce to You that there is [no longer] among us any witness [to that]."
۞ وَقَيَّضْنَا لَهُمْ قُرَنَآءَ فَزَيَّنُوا۟ لَهُم مَّا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَحَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلُ فِىٓ أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ
And We appointed for them companions who made attractive to them what was before them and what was behind them [of sin], and the word [i.e., decree] has come into effect upon them among nations which had passed on before them of jinn and men. Indeed, they [all] were losers.