وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنَّا رَحْمَةً ثُمَّ نَزَعْنَـٰهَا مِنْهُ إِنَّهُۥ لَيَـُٔوسٌ كَفُورٌ 9
Translations
And if We give man a taste of mercy from Us and then We withdraw it from him, indeed, he is despairing and ungrateful.
Transliteration
Wa-la-in adhaqna al-insana minna rahmatan thumma naza'naha minhu innahoo layawoosu kafoor
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes a universal human characteristic: when Allah grants a person mercy or blessings and then withdraws it, that person becomes despairing and ungrateful. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as depicting human nature's weakness and ingratitude—many people struggle to maintain patience and gratitude during trials, quickly forgetting previous blessings. The verse illustrates the contrast between human weakness and divine wisdom, emphasizing that such despair and denial are natural consequences of heedlessness and spiritual disconnection from Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Hud, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes patience, gratitude, and lessons from previous prophets and their communities. It comes within a broader section (11:9-11) discussing human nature and responses to divine tests, serving as a general statement about human behavior rather than addressing a specific historical event. The context emphasizes the Meccan theme of steadfastness amid trials and the consequences of ingratitude.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest wealth is the richness of the soul (contentment), and the greatest poverty is the poverty of the soul (discontent)' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Whoever is grateful, I will surely increase him in favor; but whoever denies (My favors), indeed, My punishment is severe' (Quran 14:7, often cited with ahadith on gratitude such as those in Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize our innate tendency toward despair and ingratitude during hardship, encouraging us to develop conscious awareness of Allah's blessings and maintain gratitude even when facing loss. By understanding this weakness in human nature, believers can strive to develop stronger spiritual resilience, remembering that trials are temporary and that steadfast gratitude pleases Allah more than distressed complaint.