۞ وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّ فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مُّبِينٍ 6
Translations
And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allāh is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register.
Transliteration
Wa maa min daabbatin fil-ardi illa alaa Allahi rizquhaa wa ya'lamu mustaqarrahaa wa mustawda'ahaa. Kullun fee kitaabin mubeen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that every living creature on earth has its sustenance guaranteed by Allah, and He knows both its permanent dwelling place (in this life and the next) and its temporary abode. Ibn Kathir explains that 'mustaqarrahaa' refers to the creature's final destination, while 'mustawda'ahaa' refers to its temporary placement, all of which is recorded in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz). This verse emphasizes divine omniscience and comprehensive providence, assuring believers that no creature's provision is forgotten or left to chance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Hud, a Meccan surah that emphasizes Allah's divine attributes and justice through stories of previous prophets. The verse is part of a broader thematic discussion about Allah's complete knowledge and control over all creation, providing comfort to early Muslims facing uncertainty and hardship during the Meccan period.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Trust in Allah as you should. If you relied on Allah with true reliance, He would give you provision as He gives provision to the birds. They go out hungry in the morning and return satisfied in the evening.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi, 2344). Additionally, the hadith 'No soul shall die until it completes its term and receives its provision in full' (Ibn Majah, Sunan Ibn Majah 4271) relates to the certainty of rizq mentioned here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that anxiety about sustenance is unnecessary, as Allah has guaranteed provision for every living being according to His infinite wisdom; the practical lesson is to focus one's efforts while maintaining complete trust in Allah's care, knowing that what is written for us will reach us and what is not written will never reach us.