Tafsir of Some Verses from Surah Ar-Rum: Almighty Allah mentions in the Holy Quran that there are people who become arrogant and boastful when granted blessings, but when those blessings are taken away, they turn into disbelievers. It is not right to think that when we have wealth, we should be grateful, and when we do not, we should become ungrateful. The ups and downs of life should be met with patience, as exemplified by Prophets like Ayub (A.S.), Yahya (A.S.), and Zakariya (A.S.), who remained patient in the face of severe trials.
Further Explanation: The Quran states that some people are alive in appearance, but their hearts are dead. They do not perceive the guidance that is offered to them. In another verse, Allah addresses the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.), saying that he cannot make the dead hear. The scholars explain that the 'dead' here refers to those who are spiritually dead, even though they are physically alive.
Additional Discussion: Allah says in the Quran that He will grant a pure life to those who believe and do righteous deeds, meaning their souls will be alive. Imam Ali (A.S.) said that some people are like living dead; although they appear human, their hearts are like wild beasts. The word "life" in the Quran is sometimes used to mean the life after resurrection, and on the Day of Judgment, some will regret not having prepared for it.
Further Elaboration: Allah has sent peace upon all the Prophets, including Noah (A.S.) and Ibrahim (A.S.), in the Quran. He does not send peace to the dead, which means the Prophets are alive in the Barzakh (interim life after death and before the Day of Judgment). After the Battle of Badr, the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) spoke to the dead enemies, telling them that they had witnessed the fulfillment of Allah’s promise. When asked if the dead could hear, the Prophet replied that they understood his words better than the living at that moment.
On his return from the Battle of Siffin, Imam Ali (A.S.) stopped at the cemetery in Kufa and addressed the dead, telling them that their homes are now occupied by others, their wealth has been divided, and their spouses are living in peace. If Allah had permitted them to speak, they would have said that only piety and righteousness are of any use in the afterlife.
