When harm touches people they call out to their Lord for help, turning to Him in repentance. But when He gives them a taste of His grace, some of them associate partners with their Lord, (as if) to show their ingratitude for what We have given them. Enjoy, then, your life (as you may); before long you will come to know (the truth). Have We ever sent down to them a warrant to confirm what they associate as partners with God? When We give people a taste of grace, they rejoice in it; but if evil befalls them as an outcome of what their own hands have wrought, they lose all hope. Are they not aware that God gives in abundance, or in scant measure, to whom He wills? In this there are clear signs indeed for people who believe. (The Byzantines, Al-Room: 30: 33-37)
These verses begin a new section of the surah which follows its main line, looking at the universal expanse to which people’s lives and events are related. It is in this great expanse that we see how the laws governing life and the universe operate in harmony with the laws of the true faith, suffering no conflict or contradiction.
This section draws an image of how human desires frequently change while God’s rules and laws remain constant. It shows how flimsy idolatrous beliefs are compared with the power of true faith. It describes people’s attitudes in times of ease and hardship, when provisions are plentiful and stinted. Unless people rely on God’s measure, which never fluctuates, and unless they accept God’s will who gives as He pleases, in plenty or in small measure, their values and standards will remain unstable. Since it mentions the provision of sustenance, the surah directs them to the means that purifies money and makes it grow, which is in line with true faith. In this way, it makes clear to them who the Creator that gives sustenance, initiates life and causes death is. The false deities they allege to be God’s partners do nothing of the kind. It alerts them to the corruption that idolatry and false beliefs spread everywhere.
The surah directs the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Muslims to remain steadfast in following the true faith before there comes a day when no action is of any use. It is the day when everything people have done is reckoned and when they receive their fair reward for it all. Within the context of what God provides, the surah directs their attention to certain aspects of such provisions, some of which relate to their existence, such as the rain that comes from the skies, giving life to the earth after it was dead. Likewise, God’s revelations are given to the Prophet to bring life to hearts and souls. Yet they neither listen nor follow guidance. The surah also takes us on a round in which we look at the stages of creation of humans and their lives until they return to their Lord. At that time, no excuse or justification will benefit the wrongdoers. The surah then concludes with reassuring the Prophet. It directs him to show more patience until God’s promise is fulfilled, as it certainly will be.
These verses we are looking at today draw a picture of the human soul that does not rely on solid concepts, or follow clear lines. It thus vacillates between sudden reactions, in response to conflicting influences or events. Thus, when harm touches such people, they turn to God, realizing that only He can save them. Yet when the affliction is over, and things are comfortable again, with God bestowing His grace on them, “some of them associate partners with their Lord.” These are they who do not follow true faith and who do not benefit from the light it gives to the faithful. Ease and comfort remove the emergency that made them turn to God for support and protection. They forget their earlier hardship. Thus, rather than maintain the path of turning to God and of being grateful to Him, they disbelieve in His guidance and the grace He has bestowed on them.
A warning is given in the first instance to those unbelievers who opposed the Prophet’s message, making it clear that they belong to this group: “Enjoy, then, your life (as you may); before long you will come to know.” It is a serious threat that sends terror into their hearts. People fear threats issued by rulers or presidents. How then will they react to a threat from the Creator of this universe, He who brought it into existence by merely saying to it, “Be”?
Having delivered this stern warning, the surah questions them about the basis of their associating partners with God when it is He who bestows His grace upon them: “Have We ever sent down to them a warrant to confirm what they associate as partners with God?” No one should ever accept anything about faith from any source other than God. So, have they received any clear, powerful argument to warrant an attitude that is contrary to belief in God’s oneness? This is a rhetorical question, one that depicts the fallacy of all types of idolatry. At the same time it serves to state that the only proper and true faith is that revealed by God, with clear sanction from Him. Otherwise, it remains flimsy, devoid of substance.
The surah then depicts a different situation showing people as they euphorically rejoice at any taste of God’s grace. In contrast, they feel frustrated and hopeless when affliction befalls them: “When We give people a taste of grace, they rejoice in it; but if evil befalls them as an outcome of what their own hands have wrought, they lose all hope.”
This is another image of a soul that either does not follow a clear line in judging situations or which lacks an accurate standard that does not sway with events. These are they who emotionally rejoice at every taste of grace forgetting its source and purpose. They are elated, overjoyed, but do not express their gratitude to the One who has granted them such grace. They do not realize that a situation of grace also poses a test. When it is God’s will to requite them for their deeds, making them taste a situation of hardship, they are again blind to God’s wisdom in such a test. They lose all hope that God will remove their affliction. Such is the situation of people who do not maintain their bonds with God and, consequently, do not understand His laws or wisdom. These are the ones who only know the outer surface of the life of this world.