Surah Ar-Rum 30:34

How man sways between Tawhid and Shirk, and between Joy and Despair, according to His Circumstances

Allah tells us that when man is in dire straits, he calls upon Allah alone with no partner or associate, then when times of ease come and they have the choice, some people associate others with Allah and worship others alongside Him.

(So as to be ungrateful for the graces which We have bestowed on them.) Then Allah warns them by saying:

(but you will come to know.) One of them said: By Allah, if a law enforcment officer were to say this to me, I would be afraid, so how about when the One Who is issuing the warning is the One Who merely says to a thing "Be!" and it is Then Allah denounces the idolators for fabricating lies and worshipping others instead of Him with no evidence or proof:

(Or have We revealed to them an authority,) means, proof.

(which speaks) means, tells

(of that which they have been associating with Him) This is a rhetorical question intended to denounce them, for they have no such thing.

(And when We cause mankind to taste of mercy, they rejoice therein; but when some evil afflicts them because of what their hands have sent forth, behold, they are in despair!) This is a denunciation of man for the way he is, except for those whom Allah protects and helps, for when man is given blessings, he is proud, and says:

("Ills have departed from me." Surely, he is exultant, and boastful.) (11:10) He rejoices over himself and boasts to others, but when difficulties befall him, He despairs of ever having anything good again. Allah says:

(Except those who show patience and do righteous good deeds). They are patient during times of difficulty and do good deeds at times of ease. It was reported in the Sahih:

(How wonderful is the affair of the believer. Allah does not decree anything for him but it is good for him. If good things happen to him, he gives thanks, and that is good for him; and if bad things happen to him, he bears that with patience, and that is good for him.)

(Do they not see that Allah expands the provision for whom He wills and straitens (it for whom He wills).) He is the One Who is controlling and doing that, by His wisdom and justice, so He expands the provision for some people and restricts it for some.

(Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who believe.)

Ayat ini memperingatkan manusia yang ingkar kepada Allah, tidak sabar, dan tidak bersyukur, bahwa nikmat itu adalah karunia-Nya. Nikmat itu datang dari Allah, bukan dari selain-Nya. Firman Allah:

Tidakkah kamu memperhatikan bahwa Allah telah menundukkan apa yang ada di langit dan apa yang ada di bumi untuk (kepentingan)mu dan menyempurnakan nikmat-Nya untukmu lahir dan batin. Tetapi di antara manusia ada yang membantah tentang (keesaan) Allah tanpa ilmu atau petunjuk dan tanpa Kitab yang memberi penerangan. (Luqman/31:20)

Manusia tidak boleh mengingkari nikmat itu karena tidak ada yang selain Allah yang dapat memberikan nikmat sehebat itu, sebagaimana difirmankan-Nya:

Inilah ciptaan Allah, maka perlihatkanlah olehmu kepadaku apa yang telah diciptakan oleh (sesembahanmu) selain Allah. Sebenarnya orang-orang yang zalim itu berada di dalam kesesatan yang nyata. (Luqman/31:11)

Dalam ayat 34 ini, Allah memerintahkan mereka, "Bersenang-senanglah!" Perintah ini merupakan ejekan atas kedurhakaan mereka. Dengan demikian, perintah ini bukanlah perintah yang sebenarnya, tetapi ancaman agar mereka menghentikan perbuatan menyembah dan memohon kepada selain Allah dan mengingkari nikmat-Nya tersebut.

Apalagi perintah bersenang-senang itu diiringi ancaman "kelak kalian akan mengetahuinya." Dengan demikian, bersenang-senang itu hanya mereka nikmati sementara, yaitu paling lama selama sisa-sisa hidup mereka di dunia. Sedangkan di akhirat nanti, mereka akan memperoleh siksaan dan azab yang dahsyat atas kesyirikan dan keingkaran mereka. Azab dapat terjadi di dunia, dan pasti di akhirat. Dengan demikian, keingkaran mereka di dunia tidak akan membawa keuntungan apa-apa.

Oleh karena itu, sebelum ajal menjemput, mereka yang kafir dengan berprilaku syirik dan tidak mensyukuri nikmat hendaklah bertobat. Tobat itu harus sesegera mungkin karena tobat pada waktu napas sudah di tenggorokan tidak diterima Allah, sebagaimana terjadi pada Fir'aun (lihat Surah Yunus/10: 90-91).