Ayah
Word by Word
قُلۡ
Say
كُلّٞ
Each
يَعۡمَلُ
works
عَلَىٰ
on
شَاكِلَتِهِۦ
his manner
فَرَبُّكُمۡ
but your Lord
أَعۡلَمُ
(is) most knowing
بِمَنۡ
of who
هُوَ
[he]
أَهۡدَىٰ
(is) best guided
سَبِيلٗا
(in) way
قُلۡ
Say
كُلّٞ
Each
يَعۡمَلُ
works
عَلَىٰ
on
شَاكِلَتِهِۦ
his manner
فَرَبُّكُمۡ
but your Lord
أَعۡلَمُ
(is) most knowing
بِمَنۡ
of who
هُوَ
[he]
أَهۡدَىٰ
(is) best guided
سَبِيلٗا
(in) way
Translation
Say: "Everyone acts according to his own disposition: But your Lord knows best who it is that is best guided on the Way."
Tafsir
Say: 'Everyone, [including] us and you, acts according to his [own] character, his [own] manner [of conduct], and your Lord knows best who is better guided as to the way', [as to] the path [he follows], and He will reward him [accordingly].
"
Turning away from Allah at Times of Ease and despairing at Times of Calamity
Allah tells:
وَإِذَا أَنۡعَمۡنَا عَلَى الاِنسَانِ أَعۡرَضَ وَنَأَى بِجَانِبِهِ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ كَانَ يَوُوسًا
And when We bestow Our grace on man, he turns away and becomes arrogant. And when evil touches him, he is in great despair.
Allah tells us about the weakness that is inherent in man, except for those whom He protects at both times of ease and calamity. If Allah blesses a man with wealth, good health, ease, provision and help, and he gets what he wants, he turns away from the obedience and worship of Allah, and becomes arrogant.
Mujahid said,
""(It means) he goes away from Us.""
I say, this is like the Ayah:
فَلَمَّا كَشَفۡنَا عَنۡهُ ضُرَّهُ مَرَّ كَأَن لَّمۡ يَدۡعُنَأ إِلَى ضُرٍّ مَّسَّهُ
But when We have removed his harm from him, he passes on as if he had never invoked Us for a harm that touched him! (10:12)
and;
فَلَمَّا نَجَّـكُمۡ إِلَى الۡبَرِّ أَعۡرَضۡتُمۡ
But when He brings you safe to land, you turn away. (Ayah 67)
When man is stricken with evil, which means disasters, accidents and calamities,
كَانَ يَوُوسًا
he is in great despair,
meaning that he thinks he will never have anything good again.
As Allah says,
وَلَيِنۡ أَذَقۡنَا الاِنۡسَـنَ مِنَّا رَحۡمَةً ثُمَّ نَزَعۡنَاهَا مِنۡهُ إِنَّهُ لَيَيُوسٌ كَفُورٌ
وَلَيِنۡ أَذَقۡنَاهُ نَعۡمَأءَ بَعۡدَ ضَرَّاءَ مَسَّتۡهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ ذَهَبَ السَّيِّيَاتُ عَنِّي إِنَّهُ لَفَرِحٌ فَخُورٌ
إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُواۡ وَعَمِلُواۡ الصَّـلِحَاتِ أُوۡلَـيِكَ لَهُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَةٌ وَأَجۡرٌ كَبِيرٌ
And if We give man a taste of mercy from Us, and remove it from him, verily, He is despairing, ungrateful. But if We let him taste good after evil has touched him, he is sure to say:""Ills have departed from me.""
Surely, he is exultant, and boastful. Except those who show patience and do righteous good deeds:those, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward. (11:9-11)
قُلۡ كُلٌّ يَعۡمَلُ عَلَى شَاكِلَتِهِ
Say:""Each one does according to Shakilatihi...""
Ibn `Abbas said,
""According to his inclinations.""
Mujahid said,
""According to his inclinations and his nature.""
Qatadah said,
""According to his intentions.""
Ibn Zayd said,
""According to his religion.""
All these suggestions are close in meaning.
This Ayah - and Allah knows best - is a threat and a warning to the idolators, like the Ayah:
وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ لَا يُوۡمِنُونَ اعۡمَلُواۡ عَلَى مَكَانَتِكُمۡ
And say to those who do not believe:""Act according to your ability and way."" (11:121)
So Allah says:
قُلۡ كُلٌّ يَعۡمَلُ عَلَى شَاكِلَتِهِ فَرَبُّكُمۡ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنۡ هُوَ أَهۡدَى سَبِيلً
Say:""Each one does according to Shakilatihi, and your Lord knows best of him whose path is right.""
meaning either us or you. Everyone will be rewarded in accordance with his deeds, for nothing whatsoever is hidden from Allah."
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