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fa-lammā nasū mā dhukkirū bihī fataḥnā ʿalayhim ʾabwāba kulli shayʾin ḥattā ʾidhā fariḥū bi-mā ʾūtū ʾakhadhnāhum baghtatan fa-ʾidhā hum mublisūna
So when they forgot what they had been admonished of, We opened for them the gates of all [good] things. When they became proud of what they were given, We seized them suddenly, whereat, behold, they were despondent.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-‘An’am, Verse 44
44. "Then, when they forgot that which they had been admonished to, We opened for them the doors of all things (of enjoyments), until when they rejoiced in what they were given, We seized them suddenly when, behold, they were in utter despair."
The Arabic term /'ilas/ means a grief accompanied with despair. It is a status that criminals may have in the court when they cannot find an answer to offer. It is not such that always the welfare of life to be a sign of mercy. On the contrary, it is sometime the cause of chastisement. Giving respite to evildoers and preparing welfare and comfortable life for offenders is one of Allah’s way of treatment. The world and its bounties can be both a favor and indignation. It depends to whom they are given. In Surah' A 'raf, No.7, verse 94 faith and piety have been counted as the cause of blessings of Allah. It says:
In the verse under discussion, the world has been counted as a divine blessing.1 The verse says:
This fact should also be noted that the wrath of Allah and death both happen suddenly. So, we should be always prepared. Verily, it happens that the happy shout of men of pleasure usually changes into a despondent groan all of a sudden.
Footnotes