Surah Fussilat
Chapter 41 · Verse 51 · Revealed in Makkah
“And when We bestow favor upon man, he turns away and distances himself; but when evil touches him, then he is full of extensive supplication.”
Translation: Saheeh International
Listen to recitation
Mishary Rashid Alafasy
Reflection — Ibn Kathir
Man is fickle when Ease comes to Him after Difficulty
Allah tells us that man never gets bored of asking his Lord for good things, such as wealth, physical health, etc., but if evil touches him -- i.e., trials and difficulties or poverty --
فَيَئُوسٌ قَنُوطٌ
Reflection — Maarif ul Quran
Commentary
فَذُو دُعَاءٍ عَرِيضٍ (he is full of broad prayers - 51.) The nature of an infidel is being stated here that when Allah Almighty bestows upon him the good things: wealth, honor and peace, the infidel gets so involved in them and so intoxicated with them that he becomes even more distant from the true Benefactor, Allah Almighty, and his pride and heedlessness increase even more. But when he faces some distress, then he starts long and lengthy supplications to Allah Almighty. Here the Qur'an has used the word ` broad' to describe their lengthy supplications, because what is wider will automatically be longer too. That is why, when describing the span of Paradise, Allah Almighty has used the word عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ (a paradise the width of which spans the heavens and the earth - 3: 133)
What does this verse bring up for you today?