(15–20) “As for man, when his Lord tests him by honoring him and bestowing blessings upon him, he says, ‘My Lord has honored me.’ * But when He tests him by restricting his provision, he says, ‘My Lord has humiliated me.’ * No! Rather, you do not honor the orphan, * nor do you urge one another to feed the poor. * You devour inheritance voraciously, * and you love wealth with an intense love.”
Allah Most High describes human nature in itself: man is ignorant and unjust, with no knowledge of how matters will ultimately turn out. He imagines that his present condition will continue and never pass away. He also imagines that Allah’s honoring him and bestowing blessings upon him in this world indicate that he is honored in His sight and close to Him. Conversely, when “He restricts his provision”—that is, constricts it, so that his sustenance is limited to what he needs, with nothing left over—he considers this to be Allah’s humiliation ⦗924⦘ of him.
Allah refutes this notion by saying, “No!” That is, not everyone upon whom I bestow worldly blessings is honored in My sight, nor is everyone whose provision I restrict disgraced before Me. Wealth and poverty, abundance and scarcity, are merely trials from Allah by which He tests His servants, to see who responds with gratitude and patience, and thus receives an immense reward, and who does not, and is consequently consigned to a grievous punishment.
Moreover, for a servant’s concern to extend no further than his own desires is a sign of feeble aspiration. Allah therefore rebukes them for showing no concern for the circumstances of needy people, saying:
“No! Rather, you do not honor the orphan”—the one who has lost his father and provider and therefore needs to be comforted, cared for, and treated kindly.
Yet you do not honor him; instead, you humiliate him. This demonstrates the absence of mercy in your hearts and your lack of desire to do good.
“Nor do you urge one another to feed the poor.” That is, you do not encourage one another to feed the needy among the poor and destitute. This is because of your miserliness over worldly possessions and the intense love of them that has taken root in your hearts. Thus He says:
“You devour inheritance”—that is, the wealth left behind—“voraciously,” consuming it completely and leaving none of it.
“And you love wealth with an intense love”—that is, an exceedingly strong love. This resembles the words of Allah Most High:
“But you prefer the life of this world, * while the Hereafter is better and more lasting.”
And:
“No! Rather, you love the fleeting life * and neglect the Hereafter.”