Transliteration:( Wa izaa massan naasa durrun da'aw Rabbahum muneebeena ilaihi summa izaaa azaqahum minhu rahmatan izaa fareequm minhum be Rabbihim yushrikoon )
"And when any hurt [72] touches mankind, they call their Lord turning [73] towards Him. Then when He lets them taste [74] mercy, then a group of them start to be polytheists [75], associating partners with their Lord."
Here, “mankind” refers to the disbelievers and polytheists, and the “hurt” means calamities such as illness, famine, and distress.
This is evident from the verses that follow, which describe their reactions during such times.
In hardship, even the polytheists of Makkah would request the Holy Prophet ﷺ to pray for them.
Pharaoh too would request Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) to pray for relief during times of affliction.
Even today, many hard-hearted polytheists seek du‘ā (supplication) from pious Muslims during severe illness or crises—this is part of their momentary turning to Allah.
This teaches us that even disbelievers benefit from Allah’s mercy in this world—sometimes through direct acceptance of their supplication, or through the accepted prayers of Muslims on their behalf.
After being saved or granted ease, some of these people return to shirk—associating partners with Allah.
Others may remain steadfast and become believers, but many revert to their old ways, as in:
“And when He brings them to safety, then some of them keep to the middle course…” (Surah Luqman, 31:32).
This is why the verse says “a group of them”—not all, but many fall back into disbelief.
33. And when harm touches men, they cry sincerely only to their Lord, turning to Him in repentance; but when He gives them a taste of His mercy, behold, a party of them associates partners in worship with their Lord. 34. So as to be ungrateful for the graces which We have bestowed on them. Then enjoy; but you will come to know. 35. Or have We revealed to them an authority, which speaks of that which they have been associating with Him 36. And when We cause mankind to taste of mercy, they rejoice therein; but when some evil afflicts them because of what their hands have sent forth, behold, they are in despair! 37. Do they not see that Allah expands the provision for whom He wills and straitens (it for whom He wills). Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who believe.
Allah tells us that when man is in dire straits, he calls upon Allah alone with no partner or associate, then when times of ease come and they have the choice, some people associate others with Allah and worship others alongside Him.
(So as to be ungrateful for the graces which We have bestowed on them.) Then Allah warns them by saying:
(but you will come to know.) One of them said: By Allah, if a law enforcment officer were to say this to me, I would be afraid, so how about when the One Who is issuing the warning is the One Who merely says to a thing “Be!” and it is Then Allah denounces the idolators for fabricating lies and worshipping others instead of Him with no evidence or proof:
(Or have We revealed to them an authority,) means, proof.
(which speaks) means, tells
(of that which they have been associating with Him) This is a rhetorical question intended to denounce them, for they have no such thing.
(And when We cause mankind to taste of mercy, they rejoice therein; but when some evil afflicts them because of what their hands have sent forth, behold, they are in despair!) This is a denunciation of man for the way he is, except for those whom Allah protects and helps, for when man is given blessings, he is proud, and says:
(“Ills have departed from me.” Surely, he is exultant, and boastful.) (11:10) He rejoices over himself and boasts to others, but when difficulties befall him, He despairs of ever having anything good again. Allah says:
(Except those who show patience and do righteous good deeds). They are patient during times of difficulty and do good deeds at times of ease. It was reported in the Sahih:
(How wonderful is the affair of the believer. Allah does not decree anything for him but it is good for him. If good things happen to him, he gives thanks, and that is good for him; and if bad things happen to him, he bears that with patience, and that is good for him.)
(Do they not see that Allah expands the provision for whom He wills and straitens (it for whom He wills).) He is the One Who is controlling and doing that, by His wisdom and justice, so He expands the provision for some people and restricts it for some.
(Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who believe.)
(30:33) (Such are human beings) that when any misfortune befalls them, they cry to their Lord, penitently turning to Him.[52] But no sooner that He lets them have a taste of His Mercy than some of them begin associating others with their Lord in His Divinity[53]
52. This is a clear proof of the fact that in the depths of their heart there still exists an evidence of Tauhid. Whenever the hopes start crumbling, their hearts cry out from within that the real Ruler of the universe is its Master and His help alone can improve their lot.
53. That is, they again start presenting offerings before other deities, and claiming that their misfortune has been removed through the help and grace of such and such a saint and shrine.
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