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wa-la-ʾin ʾadhaqnāhu raḥmatan minnā min baʿdi ḍarrāʾa massathu la-yaqūlanna hādhā lī wa-mā ʾaẓunnu s-sāʿata qāʾimatan wa-la-ʾin rujiʿtu ʾilā rabbī ʾinna lī ʿindahū la-l-ḥusnā fa-la-nunabbiʾanna lladhīna kafarū bi-mā ʿamilū wa-la-nudhīqannahum min ʿadhābin ghalīẓin
If, after distress has befallen him, We let him have a taste of Our mercy, he says, ‘This is my due! I do not think the Hour will ever come, and in case I am returned to my Lord, I will indeed have the best [reward] with Him.’ So We will surely inform the faithless about what they have done, and will surely make them taste a harsh punishment.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Fussilat - Verse 50
50. And indeed, if We give him a taste of Mercy from Us, after some adversity has touched him, he is sure to say: “This is due to my [merit]; [he becomes so arrogant that he says:] 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 [exalted state] with Him. Then, We verily, will show to the disbelievers what they have done and We shall make them taste a severe torment.
Seeking Mammon leads to neglect and at times denial of Resurrection. Man is intolerant and arrogant and upon his access to bounties becomes arrogant. Likewise, upon tasting afflictions, man loses his heart and cries out for assistance. The blessed Verse makes a reference to one of the undesirable states of men who lack knowledge and faith, namely, arrogance and vanity, saying:
Such miserable and arrogant person forgets that had it not been for Divine Favor, he would have been afflicted with adversity. It was in the same vein that arrogant Korah who was granted many a material gain for his trial refrained from doing good. When he was asked to do good in return for Divine Favors, he claimed that he possessed his material possessions because of his knowledge and merits,
The blessed Verse further adds that such arrogance will lead him to denial of Resurrection and he will say:
“I do not think that the Hour will be established, but whenever I return to my Lord, surely, there will be for me the best [rewards and bounties.”
He says that his Lord has cherished him in this world and will surely grant him better rewards!
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