(36–37) “When We let people taste mercy, they rejoice in it. But if some misfortune befalls them because of what their own hands have sent ahead, at once they despair. Do they not see that Allah grants abundant provision to whomever He wills and restricts it? Surely in that are signs for people who believe.”

The Exalted informs us of the disposition of most people in times of ease and hardship: when Allah lets them taste mercy from Him—such as health, wealth, victory, and the like—they rejoice in it with arrogant exultation, not with the joy of gratitude and delight in Allah’s blessing.

“But if some misfortune befalls them”—that is, a condition that distresses them—“because of what their own hands have sent ahead” in the form of sins, “at once they despair.” They lose hope that their poverty, illness, or the like will ever pass. This stems from their ignorance and lack of understanding.

“Do they not see that Allah grants abundant provision to whomever He wills and restricts it?” Despair, despite knowing that prosperity and adversity are from Allah and that the abundance or scarcity of provision occurs by His decree, is baseless and entirely misplaced. Therefore, intelligent person, do not look merely at the apparent causes; rather, direct your attention to the One who brings them about. Hence He says: “Surely in that are signs for people who believe.” They are the ones who take heed from Allah’s granting abundance to whomever He wills and His withholding it. Through this, they recognize Allah’s wisdom, mercy, and generosity, and how He draws hearts to ask Him for every kind of provision they seek.