Allah said,
[لِّكَيْلاَ
تَأْسَوْاْ عَلَى مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلاَ تَفْرَحُواْ بِمَآ ءَاتَـكُمْ]
(In order that you may not grieve at the things over that you fail to get,
nor rejoice over that which has been given to you.) meaning, `We informed you of
Our encompassing knowledge, recording all things before they occur and creating
all things in due measure known to Us, so that you may know that what has met
you would never have missed you and what has missed you would never have met
you. Therefore, do not grieve for what you have missed of fortune, because had
it been destined for you, you would have achieved it.' (It is also recited:)
(وَلَا تَفْرَحُوْا بِمَا أَتَاكُمْ) (nor rejoice over that which came to you)
meaning, come to you. According to the recitation,
[ءَاتَـكُمُ]
it means (which has been given to you.) Both meanings are related. Allah says
here, `do not boast before people about what Allah has favored you with, because
it is not you who earned it by your efforts. Rather, all this came your way
because Allah destined them for you and provided them for you as provisions.
Therefore, do not use what Allah has granted you as a reason to boast and become
arrogant with others.' Allah's statement,
[وَاللَّهُ لاَ
يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ]
(And Allah likes not prideful boasters.) meaning, who acts arrogantly with
other people. `Ikrimah commented by saying, "Everyone of us feels happiness and
grief. However, make your joy with gratitude and endure your grief with
patience.''