Surah Luqman (Luqman ) 31 : 32

Explanatory Note

People however are neither patient nor grateful. When harm afflicts them, they raise their voices with prayer. When God lifts harm from them, only a few are truly grateful. “When the waves engulf them like shadows, they call to God, sincere in their faith in Him alone.” In the face of such danger, with the waves engulfing them from all sides, and their ships rocking in the angry sea, hearts and souls shed their assumed and delusive power which, in times of ease and comfort, might shield their true nature, severing its links with its Creator. Yet when all masks are torn and human nature emerges from behind its blinding covers, it acknowledges its Lord and turns to Him in true submission. It abandons all alleged partners, declaring them false. At such moments of danger, people call to God in earnest, with sincere faith in Him and His oneness.

But “as soon as He has brought them safe to land, some of them are restrained in their attitude.” Security and comfort do not drive them back to carelessness. They remain mindful of God’s bounty and give thanks for it, but they do not do enough to fulfil their duties towards God in thanksgiving. In other words, they are restrained in their thanks.

There are others who deny God’s signs once danger is over and security is again felt. “Yet none could knowingly reject Our revelations except those who are utterly perfidious or hardened unbelievers.” Both treachery and unbelief are here described in superlative terms that are nevertheless true of anyone who disbelieves after having seen all the universal indications and listened to the clear arguments about human nature.