Surah 11

Surah 11:10

"But if indeed We give him a taste of blessing, after hardship has touched him, he will indeed say, ‘The evils have gone from me.’ Surely he is indeed gloating (and) boastful"
The changing of Man's Attitude in Happiness and Hardship Verses 11:9-11
Show Full Scripture Context (11:9-11) — 3 Verses
Verse 9

وَلَئِنۡ أَذَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنَّا رَحۡمَةٗ ثُمَّ نَزَعۡنَٰهَا مِنۡهُ إِنَّهُۥ لَيَـُٔوسٞ كَفُورٞ

If indeed We give a person a taste of mercy from Us, (and) then We withdraw it from him, surely he is indeed despairing (and) ungrateful.

Verse 10

وَلَئِنۡ أَذَقۡنَٰهُ نَعۡمَآءَ بَعۡدَ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتۡهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ ذَهَبَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتُ عَنِّيٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَفَرِحٞ فَخُورٌ

But if indeed We give him a taste of blessing, after hardship has touched him, he will indeed say, ‘The evils have gone from me.’ Surely he is indeed gloating (and) boastful

Verse 11

إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٞ وَأَجۡرٞ كَبِيرٞ

– except those who are patient and do righteous deeds. Those – for them (there is) forgiveness and a great reward.

Allah, the Exalted, informs about mankind and the blameworthy characteristics that he possesses, except for those believing servants upon whom Allah has bestowed His mercy. Allah explains that when any hardship befalls man, after he has experienced blessings, he is disheartened and he despairs of any good in the future. He denies and rejects (the bounties of) his previous condition. Thus, he behaves as if he has never seen any good and he loses all hope for relief (from his situation). Likewise, if any blessing befalls him after displeasure,

Quoted Scripture
"he is sure to say, "Ills have departed from me.""

This means that he will claim that no harm or calamity will afflict him after this (blessing).

Quoted Scripture
"Surely, he is exultant and boastful (ungrateful to Allah)."

This means that he is pleased with what he has in his hand and ungrateful (to Allah). At the same time he is boastful towards others.

Allah, the Exalted, then says,

Quoted Scripture
"Except those who show patience"

meaning, those who show patience during times of hardship and adversity.

In reference to Allah's statement,

Quoted Scripture
"and do righteous good deeds"

This means that they perform the good deeds in times of ease and good health.

Concerning the statement,

Quoted Scripture
"those, theirs will be forgiveness"

meaning, that they will be forgiven due to the calamities that afflicted them. Concerning Allah's statement,

{and a great reward.} This great reward is due to them because of what they sent forth (of good deeds) in their times of ease. This is similar to what is mentioned in the Hadith,

"By He in Whose Hand is my soul! No worry, calamity, distress, illness, or grief strikes a believer, even the prick of a thorn, except that Allah will expiate his sins for him because of it."

In the Sahih it is recorded that the Prophet said,

"By He in Whose Hand is my soul! Allah does not decree any matter for the believer except that it is good for him. If any blessing befalls him, he is thankful (to Allah) and that is good for him. If any harm comes to him, he is patient and that is also good for him. This is (a bounty) exclusively for the believer."

For this reason, Allah, the Exalted, says,

{By Al-'Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss. Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds. And recommend one another to the truth and recommend one another to patience.} 103:1-3

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.