"Then, when We bestow upon him"—meaning: We give him—"a favor from Us"—that is: well-being—"he says: 'I have been given this'"—meaning: I have been granted this—"'only by virtue of knowledge.'" Mujahid's explanation states: He says, "This is [due to my own knowledge]," (like His saying: "And if We let him taste mercy from Us after adversity has touched him, he will surely say, 'This is for me,'" meaning: I am deserving of this).
﴿ثمَّ إِذا خولناه﴾ أعطيناه ﴿نعْمَة منا﴾ أَي: عَافِيَة ﴿قَالَ إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ﴾ أَعْطيته ﴿على علم﴾ تَفْسِير مُجَاهِد يَقُولُ: هَذَا [بعلمي] (كَقَوْلِه: ﴿وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَاهُ رَحْمَةً مِنَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ ضَرَّاءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ هَذَا لي﴾ أَي: أَنَا محقوقٌ بِهَذَا).
