Allah will have His Mercy, and will extend His bounties on those who are in distress for their sinful acts, and will relieve them, that they may be thankful; and accept the truth by repentance and return. But instead of gratitude, they become obstinate, and persist in their rebellion and sinful deeds! So, they wander in a state of confusion and thanklessness.

      ``And if we have Mercy on them, and relieve them from what has afflicted them, they will still persist in their rebellion, while they are confused.''

      Sometimes Allah seizes them in a harder punishment, but not only they insist upon their blasphemy, they also abandon themselves to despair. They are in such a spiritual condition that the little trial of God will not wake them up, and the greater trial takes them to despair. After all, when their term is expired and death catches them, there will be no more chance for them to repent and return.

      As to what the, ``opening of the door to a severe punishment'' (VERSE NO.77) may mean; various views have been put forth. Some commentators say; the reference is to the painful punishment that their defeat in the Battle of Badr brought on them. We doubt this idea, because this chapter was revealed in Mecca, and the battle of Badr occured after the Emigration to Medina.

      Some commentators say the reference is to a very severe famine that afflicted Mecca when the prophet cursed them. This incident was about four years before Emigration of the prophet to Medina.

      Most probably, this does not refer to a certain group of the wickeds and disbelievers. It seems to be a general method of God's dealing with the unbelievers and sinful people.

      Then there comes the verse NO.78 through which reference is made to three of the great bounties of our Merciful Lord, namely the sense of hearing, the sense of sight, and the heart which is supposed to be the seat of all Man's feeling and intelligence. These are the faculties and the means by which knowledge can be found, judgement formed, and so many good things obtained:ِ

      ``And He is who created for you hearing and eyes and heart, yet little is the thanks that you give.''

      To understand the importance of the two senses of sight and hearing, it is enough to think of having them lost for a couple of weeks. It is then more than a misfortune, and indeed difficult to see the beautiful world and nature no more.

      To see no light, no day, no movements, no colour and no beauty. Or to hear no sound, no voice, no talk, no music. Even the tongue will fail in his task, and knows not what to say, and how to communicate with other people.

      Then consider losing the heart. Of course, we don't mean the hollow muscular organ which is about the size of a closed fist that beats continuously in our chest, to propel blood through the arteries and veins. Heart in Quränic literature, is the wisdom and understanding. It is the seat of Man's feelings and intelligence. Then think of losing the heart for a short period of time. What else remains for man in this world to have the pleasure of its presence? How can we then think, calculate, conclude, differentiate, distinguish, and finally decide?

      Are then we thankful enough for having such valuable faculties and precious instruments of living and understanding that our Good Gracious God has bestowed on us?

      Then in the next verse (NO.79) the change of day to night and vice versa, has been pointed to. Consider how could our life and living become, if the day or night would not be changeable. In this natural phenomenon, the least profit for Man, is that the alternation of night and day will make way for our rest and refreshment, and our work and endeavour, for life and evolution:ِ

      ``He is who gives life, and makes to die; and from Him is the Alternation of night and day, will you not then use your wisdom?''

      We live and we die just as we fall asleep at night, and wake up in the morning. Therefore, the night and day, besides their immense profit for creatures, are two clear signs of God to help us to know the nature of life and death, by studying the nature of sleep and wakefulness in the night and day.