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
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.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُۥ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ وَلَآ أُشْرِكَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُوا۟ وَإِلَيْهِ مَـَٔابِ
And [the believers among] those to whom We have given the [previous] Scripture rejoice at what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], but among the [opposing] factions are those who deny part of it [i.e., the Qur’ān]. Say, "I have only been commanded to worship Allāh and not associate [anything] with Him. To Him I invite, and to Him is my return."
وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَظِلَـٰلُهُم بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ ۩
And to Allāh prostrates whoever is within the heavens and the earth, willingly or by compulsion, and their shadows [as well] in the mornings and the afternoons.
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى مَدَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَأَنْهَـٰرًا ۖ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ جَعَلَ فِيهَا زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۖ يُغْشِى ٱلَّيْلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers; and from all of the fruits He made therein two mates; He causes the night to cover the day. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.