His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "And if We let man taste of Our mercy, then We withdraw it from him, indeed, he is despairing and ungrateful." "And if We let him taste good fortune after hardship has touched him, he will surely say, 'Gone is the evils from me.' Indeed, he is exultant and boastful." "Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds. Those will have forgiveness and a great reward."

"Let us taste" here is metaphorical, because "mercy" here encompasses all that one benefits from, such as food, clothing, status, and other than that. And "man" here is a term for the species, and the meaning is: indeed, this creation is in the nature of people. Then He excluded those whom the laws and faith have returned to patience and righteous deeds. And "despairing" and "ungrateful" are forms of exaggeration, and "ungrateful" here refers to the ingratitude for blessings. The meaning is: indeed, he despairs, becomes distressed, and is displeased. If he were to look at the lasting blessings of Allah upon him in his mind and senses and other than that, and did not deny them, it would not be so. If this were to happen to a disbeliever, it would also be correct by the law, but it is not from the wording of the verse.

Some people said regarding this verse: "man" refers specifically to the disbeliever, and they based this on the word "ungrateful." This, in my view, is rejected, because the attribute of disbelief is not applied to all people as the term "man" implies.

And "good fortune" includes health, wealth, and similar things, and "hardship" refers to adversity, and it is also comprehensive. And the term "gone are the evils from me" implies arrogance and ignorance that this is by a blessing from Allah, and a belief that this is by coincidence or by a false belief. Otherwise, if someone were to say it while believing that its removal is by a blessing and favor from Allah, that would not occur. And "evils" here refers to everything that is bad in this world.

And a group read: "he is exultant" with a broken 'ra', and another group read: "he is exultant" with a 'ra' that is pronounced with a 'dhamma'. This exultation is absolute, and therefore it is condemned, as exultation is the overflow of the soul. Exultation does not come in the Qur'an as praiseworthy except when it is qualified by being in good.

And His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "Except for those who are patient," this exception is connected to what we have previously mentioned that "man" is general referring to the species. And whoever said, "Indeed, it is specific to the disbeliever," said here: indeed, the exception is disconnected, and this is a weak statement in terms of meaning. As for in terms of wording, it is good, and likewise, some grammarians have said it. Allah has excluded from those who walk according to the nature of man those who have been carried by the religions to patience in the face of hardships and perseverance in the worship of Allah. And none of that is in the nature of humans, but rather it is driven by the love of Allah and the fear of the Hereafter. Patience and righteous deeds are of no benefit except with guidance and faith. Then He, blessed and exalted, promised the people of this attribute - as an encouragement and urging - with forgiveness for sins and favor with reward and bliss.