Surah Al-Isra 17:83

Turning away from Allah at Times of Ease and despairing at Times of Calamity

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:

(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;

(But when He brings you safe to land, you turn away.) When man is stricken with evil, which means disasters, accidents and calamities,

(he is in great despair.), meaning that he thinks he will never have anything good again. As Allah says,

(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)

(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:

(And say to those who do not believe: "Act according to your ability and way") (11:121) So Allah says:

(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.

Dalam ayat ini, Allah swt menerangkan sifat umum manusia, yaitu apabila diberi kenikmatan, seperti harta, kekuasaan, kemenangan dan sebagainya, mereka tidak mau lagi tunduk dan patuh kepada-Nya, bahkan mereka menjauhkan diri. Sebaliknya, apabila ditimpa kesukaran, kesengsara-an, kemiskinan, dan kekalahan, mereka berputus asa dan merasa tidak akan memperoleh apa-apa lagi. Seharusnya mereka tidak berputus asa, melainkan tetap beramal dan berusaha untuk mendapatkan pertolongan Allah, karena menurut ajaran Al-Qur'an, orang yang berputus asa dari rahmat Allah berarti telah mengingkari rahmat-Nya.

Ayat-ayat lain yang menerangkan keadaan manusia ketika menerima rahmat Allah, ialah firman-Nya:

Dan apabila manusia ditimpa bahaya dia berdoa kepada Kami dalam keadaan berbaring, duduk atau berdiri, tetapi setelah Kami hilangkan bahaya itu darinya, dia kembali (ke jalan yang sesat), seolah-olah dia tidak pernah berdoa kepada Kami untuk (menghilangkan) bahaya yang telah menimpanya. (Yunus/10: 12)