Allah tells us about the weakness that is inherent in man, except for those
whom He protects at both times of ease and calamity. If Allah blesses a man with
wealth, good health, ease, provision and help, and he gets what he wants, he
turns away from the obedience and worship of Allah, and becomes arrogant.
Mujahid said, "(It means) he goes away from Us.'' I say, this is like the Ayah:
[فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا
عَنْهُ ضُرَّهُ مَرَّ كَأَن لَّمْ يَدْعُنَآ إِلَى ضُرٍّ مَّسَّهُ]
(But when We have removed his harm from him, he passes on as if he had never
invoked Us for a harm that touched him!) [10:12] and;
[فَلَمَّا نَجَّـكُمْ
إِلَى الْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ]
(But when He brings you safe to land, you turn away.) When man is stricken
with evil, which means disasters, accidents and calamities,
[كَانَ
يَئُوساً]
(he is in great despair.), meaning that he thinks he will never have anything
good again. As Allah says,
[وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَا
الإِنْسَـنَ مِنَّا رَحْمَةً ثُمَّ نَزَعْنَاهَا مِنْهُ إِنَّهُ لَيَئُوسٌ كَفُورٌ
- وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَاهُ نَعْمَآءَ بَعْدَ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ ذَهَبَ
السَّيِّئَاتُ عَنِّي إِنَّهُ لَفَرِحٌ فَخُورٌ - إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ
وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَاتِ أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمْ مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ
]
(And if We give man a taste of mercy from Us, and remove it from him, verily,
He is despairing, ungrateful. But if We let him taste good after evil has
touched him, he is sure to say: "Ills have departed from me.'' Surely, he is
exultant, and boastful. Except those who show patience and do righteous good
deeds: those, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward.) (11:9-11)
[قُلْ كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ
عَلَى شَاكِلَتِهِ]
(Say: "Each one does according to Shakilatihi...'') Ibn `Abbas said,
"According to his inclinations.'' Mujahid said, "According to his inclinations
and his nature.'' Qatadah said, "According to his intentions.'' Ibn Zayd said,
"According to his religion.'' All these suggestions are close in meaning. This
Ayah - and Allah knows best - is a threat and a warning to the idolators, like
the Ayah:
[وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ
لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ اعْمَلُواْ عَلَى مَكَانَتِكُمْ]
(And say to those who do not believe: "Act according to your ability and
way'') (11:121) So Allah says:
[قُلْ كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ
عَلَى شَاكِلَتِهِ فَرَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ هُوَ أَهْدَى سَبِيلاً ]
(Say: "Each one does according to Shakilatihi, and your Lord knows best of
him whose path is right.'') meaning either us or you. Everyone will be rewarded
in accordance with his deeds, for nothing whatsoever is hidden from Allah.
[وَيَسْـَلُونَكَ
عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّى وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّن الْعِلْمِ
إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ]
(85. And they ask you concerning the Ruh (the spirit). Say: "The Ruh (the
spirit) is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And
of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little.'')