ٱللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ وَفَرِحُوا۟ بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعٌ 26
Translations
Allāh extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. And they rejoice in the worldly life, while the worldly life is not, compared to the Hereafter, except [brief] enjoyment.
Transliteration
Allahu yabsutu ar-rizqa liman yasha'u wa yuqaddiru wa farihoo bil-hayati ad-dunya wa ma al-hayatu ad-dunya fil-akhirati illa mata'u
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah expands provision for whom He wills and restricts it for whom He wills, yet people rejoice in worldly life despite its transient nature. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah teaches that both abundance and scarcity of provision come from Allah's divine wisdom, and that those who become attached to material wealth often neglect the eternal life to come. The ayah reminds believers that the worldly life, no matter how abundant its pleasures, is merely temporary enjoyment compared to the eternal reality of the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder), a Medinan surah that addresses themes of divine power, provision, and accountability. The broader context of this surah deals with signs of Allah's existence and the reality of the Day of Judgment, reminding the believers not to be deceived by worldly prosperity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Wealth and children are adornments of life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46, thematic correlation). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet warned against becoming so attached to worldly possessions that one forgets the Hereafter.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers not to be deceived by material abundance or to despair at material scarcity, as both are decreed by Allah for wisdom. It calls us to maintain perspective on life's true purpose: preparing for the eternal Hereafter rather than becoming intoxicated with temporary worldly pleasures.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَـَٔابٍ
Those who have believed and done righteous deeds - a good state is theirs and a good return.
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِـَٔايَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ
And We have already sent messengers before you and assigned to them wives and descendants. And it was not for a messenger to come with a sign except by permission of Allāh. For every term is a decree.
لَّهُمْ عَذَابٌ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَشَقُّ ۖ وَمَا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَاقٍ
For them will be punishment in the life of [this] world, and the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe. And they will not have from Allāh any protector.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦٓ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوٓءَ ٱلْحِسَابِ
And those who join that which Allāh has ordered to be joined and fear their Lord and are afraid of the evil of [their] account,