Overview (Verses 33 - 37)

Vacillating Conditions

When harm touches people they call out to their Lord for help, turning to Him in repentance. But when He gives them a taste of His grace, some of them associate partners with their Lord, [as if] to show their ingratitude for what We have given them. Enjoy, then, your life [as you may]; before long you will come to know [the truth]. Have We ever sent down to them a warrant to confirm what they associate as partners with God? When We give people a taste of grace, they rejoice in it; but if evil befalls them as an outcome of what their own hands have wrought, they lose all hope. Are they not aware that God gives in abundance, or in scant measure, to whom He wills? In this there are clear signs indeed for people who believe. (Verses 33-37) These verses draw a picture of the human soul that does not rely on solid concepts, or follow clear lines. It thus vacillates between sudden reactions, in response to conflicting influences or events. Thus, when harm touches such people, they turn to God, realizing that only He can save them. Yet when the affliction is over, and things are comfortable again, with God bestowing His grace on them, “some of them associate partners with their Lord.” (Verse 33) These are they who do not follow true faith and who do not benefit from the light it gives to the faithful. Ease and comfort remove the emergency that made them turn to God for support and protection. They forget their earlier hardship. Thus, rather than maintain the path of turning to God and of being grateful to Him, they disbelieve in His guidance and the grace He has bestowed on them.

A warning is given in the first instance to those unbelievers who opposed the Prophet’s message, making it clear that they belong to this group: “Enjoy, then, your life [as you may]; before long you will come to know.” (Verse 34) It is a serious threat that sends terror into their hearts. People fear threats issued by rulers or presidents. How then will they react to a threat from the Creator of this universe, He who brought it into existence by merely saying to it, ‘Be’?

Having delivered this stern warning, the sūrah questions them about the basis of their associating partners with God when it is He who bestows His grace upon them: “Have We ever sent down to them a warrant to confirm what they associate as partners with God?” (Verse 35) No one should ever accept anything about faith from any source other than God. So, have they received any clear, powerful argument to warrant an attitude that is contrary to belief in God’s oneness? This is a rhetorical question, one that depicts the fallacy of all types of idolatry. At the same time it serves to state that the only proper and true faith is that revealed by God, with clear sanction from Him. Otherwise, it remains flimsy, devoid of substance.

The sūrah then depicts a different situation showing people as they euphorically rejoice at any taste of God’s grace. In contrast, they feel frustrated and hopeless when affliction befalls them: “When We give people a taste of grace, they rejoice in it; but if evil befalls them as an outcome of what their own hands have wrought, they lose all hope.” (Verse 36)

This is another image of a soul that either does not follow a clear line in judging situations or which lacks an accurate standard that does not sway with events. These are they who emotionally rejoice at every taste of grace forgetting its source and purpose. They are elated, overjoyed, but do not express their gratitude to the One who has granted them such grace. They do not realize that a situation of grace also poses a test. When it is God’s will to requite them for their deeds, making them taste a situation of hardship, they are again blind to God’s wisdom in such a test. They lose all hope that God will remove their affliction. Such is the situation of people who do not maintain their bonds with God and, consequently, do not understand His laws or wisdom. These are the ones who only know the outer surface of the life of this world.

This image is followed by another rhetorical question that wonders at their attitude and lack of insight. In both situations of grace and affliction one consistent law applies. Both are the result of God’s will. It is He who bestows grace and tests people with hardship, gives in abundance or in a scant measure, in line with His wisdom. This takes place all the time, but they do not see: “Are they not aware that God gives in abundance, or in scant measure, to whom He wills?” There is no need, then, for elation at the time of grace, or for despair during times of hardship. These are situations that befall people at different times as serves God’s purpose. A believer sees in them confirmation that all matters ultimately belong to God. It all indicates the consistency of God’s laws in all situations: “In this there are clear signs indeed for people who believe.” (Verse 37)