Tafseer of Explained in detail · Fussilat · 41:51
And when We bestow favor upon man, he turns away and distances himself; but when evil touches him, then he is full of extensive supplication.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the saying of the Exalted: AND WHEN WE BESTOW FAVOR UPON MAN, HE TURNS AWAY AND DISTANCES HIMSELF WITH HIS SIDE; BUT WHEN EVIL TOUCHES HIM, HE IS FULL OF EXTENSIVE SUPPLICATION (51)
The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: and when We bestow favor upon the unbeliever (kāfir), and remove from him the harm that befell him, and provide him with wealth and ease, and grant him health of body and well-being, he turns away from that to which We called him of obedience to Him, and he turns away from it ( AND DISTANCES HIMSELF WITH HIS SIDE ). He says: and he distances himself from responding to Our call to that to which We called him. And by "his side" He means: his flank.
And in accordance with what we have said about this, the people of exegesis have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad related to us, saying: Aḥmad related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī, concerning His saying: ( HE TURNS AWAY AND DISTANCES HIMSELF WITH HIS SIDE ), he says: "turns away": he turns his face away; "and distances himself with his side", he says: he keeps himself at a distance.
And His saying: ( BUT WHEN EVIL TOUCHES HIM, HE IS FULL OF EXTENSIVE SUPPLICATION ): by "extensive" He means: abundant.
As Muḥammad related to us, saying: Aḥmad related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī: ( FULL OF EXTENSIVE SUPPLICATION ), he says: abundant. And that is like the saying of the people: "so-and-so has made his supplication long" when he makes it abundant; and likewise "he has made his supplication extensive".
