Transliteration:( Wala'in azaqnaahu na'maaa'a ba'da darraaa'a massat hu la yaqoolanna zahabas saiyiaatu 'anneee; innahoo lafarihun fakhoor )
"And if We grant him ease and blessings after hardship has touched him, he will certainly say [22], 'The hardships have departed from me.' Indeed, he is exultant and boastful [23]."
This verse refers to the person who, after experiencing hardship, receives ease and blessings. He then boasts that the hardships have departed, becoming complacent and indulging in evil deeds. Instead of being grateful, he sits back content, often forgetting his past struggles. This attitude is common among the wealthy today—after being cured from illness, they may celebrate extravagantly, engaging in excessive spending on weddings and customs, forgetting the humility and gratitude they should express.
This verse highlights that boasting and expressing joy out of arrogance is prohibited in Islam. Instead, joy should be expressed as an act of gratitude towards Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty says: "Say, 'Only Allah’s grace and only His mercy, and it is therefore let them rejoice'" (S10:V58). The difference is that in boasting, one focuses on themselves, while in gratitude, the focus remains on Allah. Boasting leads to negligence, while gratitude cultivates a spirit of service. May Allah protect us from boasting and grant us the ability to express true gratitude.
The tafsir of Surah Hud verse 10 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Hud ayat 9 which provides the complete commentary from verse 9 through 11.
(11:10) And if We let him taste favour after harm has touched him, he says: All my ills are gone’, and he suddenly becomes exultant and boastful,[10]
10. This disgraceful characteristic of man has been mentioned here because the disbelievers were exhibiting it at that time. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned them of the consequences of their disobedience to Allah, they would scoff at him as if to say: Are you mad? Can’t you see our prosperity and power? We are enjoying all the good things of life and dominating over everything and everyone all around us. How is it that you are prophesying torment for us?
The above mentioned arrogant behavior was due to the disgraceful human characteristic which has been mentioned in this verse. It is this: Man is, by nature, shallow and superficial and lacks the depth of thought. Therefore, when he enjoys prosperity and power he becomes joyous, arrogant and boastful; so much so that he never even dreams of any possibility that his happy condition would ever come to an end. And if and when adversity befalls him, he becomes an embodiment of despair and begins to complain of his misfortune here, there, and everywhere; so much so that he does not hesitate even to abuse God and taunt at His Godhead. But whenever there is a change for the better in his fortune, he again begins to brag of his foresight, wisdom and success. That is why the disbelievers were exhibiting such a shallow and superficial characteristic in answer to the warning of the Prophet (peace be upon him). They forgot that Allah was deferring their punishment because of His mercy to give them sufficient time to consider well their absurd attitude and mend their ways during the respite given to them, and not to delude themselves by imagining that their prosperity had very deep foundations and would last for ever.
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