Allah refutes man in his belief that if Allah gives Him abundant provisions
to test him with it, it is out of His honor for him. But this is not the case,
rather it is a trial and a test, as Allah says,
[أَيَحْسَبُونَ
أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ - نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِى
الْخَيْرَتِ بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ ]
(Do they think that in wealth and children with which We enlarge them. We
hasten unto them with good things. Nay, but they perceive not.) (23:55-56)
Likewise, from another angle, if Allah tests him and tries him by curtailing his
sustenance, he believes that is because Allah is humiliating him. As Allah says,
[كَلاَّ]
(But no!) meaning, the matter is not as he claims, neither in this nor in
that. For indeed Allah gives wealth to those whom He loves as well as those whom
He does not love. Likewise, He withholds sustenance from those whom He loves and
those whom He does not love. The point is that Allah should be obeyed in either
circumstance. If one is wealthy, he should thank Allah for that, and if he is
poor, he should exercise patience.