(12) “When adversity touches a person, he calls upon Us while lying on his side, sitting, or standing. But when We remove his adversity, he carries on as though he had never called upon Us regarding the adversity that touched him. Thus, what the transgressors used to do has been made appealing to them.”

This is an account of human nature in general: when a person is afflicted by illness or calamity, he exerts himself in supplication and asks Allah in every state—standing, sitting, and lying down. He persists in supplication so that Allah may remove his adversity.

“But when We remove his adversity, he carries on as though he had never called upon Us regarding the adversity that touched him.” That is, he persists in his heedlessness, turning away from his Lord, as though adversity had never befallen him and Allah had never removed it. What injustice could be greater than this?! He asks Allah to fulfill his need, but once Allah grants it, he gives no thought to what he owes his Lord, as though Allah had no right over him. This is Satan’s making evil appear attractive: he made appealing to him what sound minds and innate dispositions deem reprehensible and repugnant.

“Thus, what the transgressors”—those who overstep all bounds—“used to do has been made appealing to them.”