وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَـٰهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ هَـٰذَا لِى وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّجِعْتُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّىٓ إِنَّ لِى عِندَهُۥ لَلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ فَلَنُنَبِّئَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ 50
Translations
And if We let him taste mercy from Us after an adversity which has touched him, he will surely say, "This is [due] to me, and I do not think the Hour will occur; and [even] if I should be returned to my Lord, indeed, for me there will be with Him the best." But We will surely inform those who disbelieved about what they did, and We will surely make them taste a massive punishment.
Transliteration
Wa-la'in athaqnahu rahmatan minna min ba'di darraa' massat-hu layaqulanna hatha lee wa-ma azhunnu as-saa'ata qa'imah wa-la'in rujji'tu ila rabbi inna lee 'indahu al-husnaa fa-lanunabbi'anna alladhina kafaroo bima 'amiloo wa-lanudhiqanahum min 'adhab ghaliz
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the arrogance and ingratitude of a disbeliever who, after experiencing hardship, receives blessing from Allah yet attributes it to his own effort and denies the Hereafter. He falsely claims that if returned to his Lord, he would receive only good—demonstrating his denial of accountability. According to Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, this exemplifies the spiritual sickness of those who lack faith; Allah concludes by affirming His promise to inform the disbelievers of their deeds and punish them severely.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Fussilat (Meccan), which addresses the spiritual diseases of disbelief and arrogance. It reflects the Meccan period's focus on tawhid (monotheism) and the reality of the afterlife against the backdrop of pagan Arab society's rejection of these truths. The ayah specifically targets those who oscillate between hardship and ease yet remain unmindful of divine signs.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The example of the believer is like a grain of wheat; the wind blows it here and there, but the grain remains firm' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). This contrasts with the disbeliever described in 41:50 who lacks steadfastness. Additionally, the Hadith Qudsi relates to divine justice: 'O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and forbidden it for you, so do not oppress one another' (Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize all blessings as coming solely from Allah, cultivate gratitude in prosperity and patience in adversity, and maintain belief in the Hereafter as a moral anchor against arrogance and moral decay. It serves as a warning that material success without faith and gratitude breeds spiritual blindness and ultimate accountability.