Surah Al-A'raf — Verse 131

Word Meanings:

• Al-Hasanah (the good): prosperity, abundance, fertile crops, and ease of life.
• Sayyi'ah (the evil): drought, famine, hardship, and affliction.
• Yattayyaru (they drew an omen): they were superstitious and considered it a bad omen.
• Ta'iruhum (their omen): what befalls them of good or evil, decreed by Allah.

Tafsir (Interpretation):

When prosperity and abundance came to Pharaoh and his people — when the rains fell, the crops flourished, and life became easy — they would arrogantly say: "This is ours! We deserve it! We earned it by our own merit!" They attributed every blessing to themselves, forgetting the Giver, and never thanking Allah for His favors.

But when hardship struck them — when drought parched their lands, when famine gripped their stomachs, when prices soared and diseases spread — they would turn to superstition and say: "This is because of Moses and his followers! Their presence among us has brought us bad luck!" They blamed the innocent Messenger of Allah and the believers who were with him, instead of looking at their own sins and arrogance.

O how blind is the heart that sees blessings as its own right but blames others for its trials!

Allah, the Most High, declares the truth clearly: "Surely their omen is with Allah" — meaning, every good and every evil that befalls them comes only by Allah's decree and His perfect wisdom. The drought, the famine, the affliction — all of it was a consequence of their own disbelief, their rejection of the truth, and their persistent transgression. It was not Moses who brought them harm; rather, it was their own stubbornness and ingratitude that sealed their fate.

But most of them did not know this — not because the truth was hidden from them, but because their hearts were veiled by arrogance and ignorance. They refused to reflect, refused to learn, and refused to turn back to their Lord.

A Call to Reflection:

Dear reader, pause and look at your own life. When blessings come your way, do you remember the One who granted them? Or do you claim them as your own right? When trials strike, do you seek refuge in Allah and examine your own deeds, or do you look for someone to blame?

The believer's heart is balanced: in ease, he thanks; in hardship, he turns to his Lord with patience and supplication. He knows that both good and evil come from Allah's decree, and that behind every trial lies wisdom, mercy, and an opportunity to draw closer to Him.

Let this verse be a reminder: true success lies not in wealth or comfort, but in a heart that recognizes its Lord in every circumstance — grateful in prosperity, patient in adversity, and always seeking His pleasure. For indeed, Allah is with those who are patient, and He loves those who are grateful.