(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

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*10). There are weaknesses in human beings which they themselves can observe if only they engage in self-introspection. It is a measure of man's shallowness and short-sightedness that whenever he has power and wealth he brags and swaggers. In times of prosperity, he becomes incapable of even imagining that his spring can suffer a winter. The result is that whenever he is afflicted with adversity, he is driven to utter despair, becomes an incarnation of grief and despondency so much so that at times he tries to make himself forget his misfortunes by flinging abuses and taunts at God. But when these bad days are over and good days return, he once again becomes boastful. Drunk with success and prosperity, he returns to his old intemperate revelries. Why has this despicable trait of man been mentioned at this point? The purpose is to subtly remind the Makkan unbelievers of the warning the Prophet (peace be on him) gave them while they enjoyed security and well-being. He warned them that if they continued to disobey God they would be struck by a severe punishment. On hearing this warning, they had burst into laughter and, in effect, said to the Prophet (peace be on him): 'Are you blind to the bounties that are being lavished upon us? Do you not see that the standards of our greatness are fluttering all around? What makes you, then, day-dream that a scourge is about to be let loose upon us?' This disparaging response to the Prophet's sincere counsel and admonition was an abject expression of man's despicable trait referred to above. God has deferred the infliction of punishment and granted the unbelievers a reprieve in order that they may mend their ways. They, however, failed to seize the opportunity on account of the illusion that their prosperity would endure.