Chapter: Allah the Exalted says: “And if We let him taste mercy from Us after hardship has touched him, he will surely say, ‘This is due to me.’” (Fussilat 50).

Mujāhid commented: “That is because of my own efforts, and I am entitled to it.”

Ibn ʿAbbās said: “He means: it comes from me.”

And regarding His words, “He said, ‘I have only been given it because of knowledge that I possess’” (al-Qaṣaṣ 78),

Qatādah said: “Because of knowledge I have of the various ways to earn wealth.”

Others said: “Because Allah knows that I am worthy of it.”

This is the sense of Mujāhid’s statement: “I was granted it on account of my rank.”

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The remainder of the verse reads: “And I do not think the Hour will occur; yet if I am returned to my Lord, I will surely find with Him only the best. But We will certainly inform those who disbelieved about what they did, and We will surely make them taste a harsh punishment.” (Fussilat 50).

Relevance of this chapter to the Book of Monotheism: It shows that a person’s claim to deserve the blessings he receives after hardship conflicts with perfect tawḥīd (pure monotheism).

Laʾin: the prefixed lām is the lām of an oath.

Adhaqnāhu: We granted him.

Raḥmah: wealth and health.

Ḍarrāʾ: hardship and affliction.