And when We bestow upon man health and abundance, he turns away from the remembrance of Allah, as if he is self-sufficient and independent of Himself. He distances himself as a confirmation of his turning away, for turning away from something is to turn one's face away from it. And distancing oneself means to turn one's side away from it and turn one's back to it. He intended arrogance, for this is the habit of the arrogant. And when evil touches him, whether from poverty, illness, or a calamity from the calamities, he becomes in a state of despair, greatly despairing of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, none despairs of the mercy of Allah except the disbelieving people. And it has been read as 'and he distanced himself,' with the lam placed before the 'ain, as they say 'raa' in 'ra'a.' It may also be from 'naa' meaning 'to rise.' Say, 'Everyone acts according to his own way,' meaning according to his doctrine and method that corresponds to his state in guidance and misguidance, from their saying 'a path with branches,' which are the paths that branch from it. The evidence for this is His saying, 'Your Lord knows best who is more rightly guided in the way,' meaning who has a more correct doctrine and method.