And when their following of conjecture became evident, even on that day when matters will be unveiled and the greatness of the decree will appear, and their throwing themselves with their own hands on the fact that they are in the utmost depth of ignorance and firmly rooted in incapacity, this evidence followed that this is the nature of this type. Therefore, the conditions continue to change and the methods vary. If good befalls him, his pride swells and he becomes arrogant. If he is touched by affliction, he shrinks in humiliation and is filled with weakness and incapacity. This is contrary to the intended purpose of the surah, which is knowledge, indicating that the state of this type is far from knowledge, deeply rooted in ignorance and evil, except for whom Allah has protected. He, the Exalted, said: "Man does not become weary"; that is, he does not tire or become impatient. "Of asking for good"; that is, from seeking it with great demand. This is indicative, along with his evil, of his ignorance. For if he were knowledgeable that good would come to him or not, he would have eased his effort in supplication. "And if I had known the unseen, I would have amassed much good and no harm would have touched me" [Al-A'raf: 188]. "And if evil touches him"; that is, this type, whether little or much, comes suddenly from an unexpected direction. "He is despondent"; that is, deeply rooted in despair, which is the cutting off of hope and expectation, and great sorrow, and the insistence on remaining in that state, to the extent that he becomes a model in that. "Despairing"; that is, residing in the abode of hopelessness and bad thoughts. This is a confirmation of the meaning in the best and most complete way. This is what has characterized this type. Whoever Allah intends good for among them is protected, and whoever He intends evil for is led by his nature, thus becoming a disbeliever. For no one despairs of the mercy of Allah except the disbelieving people. Abu Hayyan said: "Despair is a characteristic of the heart, which is to cut off its hope from good. Despondency is to show signs of despair, causing one to shrink and become broken. He began with the characteristic of the heart because it is the one that influences what appears on the outward form of brokenness.