English Translation of Al-Quran
[41]. Ha-Mim_Al-Sajdah (Prostration) also known as Surah Fussilat [They Are Explained in Detail]
Ayat 49. Man (the disbeliever) does not get tired of asking good (things from Allah), but if an evil touches him, then he gives up all hope and is lost in despair.
Ayat 50. And truly, if We give him a taste of mercy from us, after some adversity (severe poverty or disease, etc.) has touched him, he is sure to say: “This is for me (due to my merit), I think not that the Hour will be established. But if I am brought back to my Lord, Surely, there will be for me the best (wealth, etc.) with Him. Then, We verily, will show to the disbelievers what they have done and We shall make them taste a severe torment.
Tafseer of Surah Ha-Mim Al-Sajdah (or Surah Fussilat) Ayat 49. Man does not weary of asking for good (things), but if ill touches him, he gives up all hope (and) is lost in despair. Not only is man prone to doubts and speculations in matters beyond his ken, thus disturbing the even tenor of his spiritual life: he is apt to run into opposite extremes in his daily experiences in this life. He is always hankering after the good things of this life. They are not all good for him. If he receives a little check, even though it may be to bring him to his bearings and turn his thoughts to higher things, he is apt to fall into despair. Ayat 50. When we give him a taste of some Mercy from ourselves, after some adversity has touched him, he is sure to say, “This is due to my (merit): I think not that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) be established; but if I am brought back to my Lord, I have (much) good (stored) in His sight!” But We will show the Unbelievers the truth of all that they did, and We shall give them the taste of a severe Penalty. When men entertain false ideas of values in life, there are two or three possible attitudes they may adopt in reaction to their experiences. In the first place, their desire may be inordinate for the good things of this life, and any little check brings them into a mood of despair. See last note. In the second place, if their desire is granted, they are puffed up, and think that everything is due to their own cleverness or merit, and they forget Allah. Not only that, but they go a step further, and begin to doubt a Hereafter at all! If by chance they have a faint glimmering of the Hereafter, which they cannot help recognizing, they think themselves “favored of Heaven”, because of some small favour given to them in this life by way of trial. Thus, they turn all things, good or evil, away from their real purpose, because they are devoted to falsehood.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Jarir bin Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) said, “He who is deprived of forbearance, tenderly feelings and gentleness is, in fact, deprived of good.”
[Muslim Book 32, Hadith Number 6272].
Lesson: This Hadith brings out that Allah enjoins softness and dislikes stiffness in human relations. Allah assures us of reward for gentle behavior in society, not for unkindness or anything like that. However, inflexibility is preferred to flexibility when there arises a question of religious matters and the limits set by Allah.