قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّى يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 36
Translations
Say, "Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it], but most of the people do not know."
Transliteration
Qul inna Rabbi yabsutul-rizqa liman yasha'u wa yuqaddiru wa lakin aktharan-nasi la ya'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet to tell the people that sustenance (rizq) is entirely in the hands of Allah alone—He expands it for whom He wills and restricts it for whom He wills. Ibn Kathir explains this refutes the notion that wealth is earned solely through human effort or that poverty reflects divine displeasure; rather, Allah's distribution of provision follows His infinite wisdom. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that most people fail to recognize this divine reality, attributing their circumstances to chance or personal merit rather than Allah's decree.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Saba, a Meccan chapter addressing the Quraysh's arrogance regarding their wealth and denial of Allah's oneness. The broader context involves refuting the pagan Arabs' misunderstanding of prosperity as proof of their righteousness and their gods' favor, while interpreting poverty as divine punishment—a common jahiliyyah belief the Quran repeatedly corrects.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'No one's wealth increases except through charity' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2280), and 'Seeking provision is a duty after the duty of worshipping Allah' (Al-Hakim), both emphasizing that while Allah controls provision, believers must also strive while trusting in His decree.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that material conditions—wealth or poverty—are divinely ordained tests and not reflections of spiritual worth or divine favor; believers should therefore neither be arrogant in affluence nor despairing in hardship, but trust in Allah's wisdom while fulfilling their responsibilities to seek provision.
Related Ayahs
۞ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَعِظُكُم بِوَٰحِدَةٍ ۖ أَن تَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ مَثْنَىٰ وَفُرَٰدَىٰ ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُوا۟ ۚ مَا بِصَاحِبِكُم مِّن جِنَّةٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ لَّكُم بَيْنَ يَدَىْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ
Say, "I only advise you of one [thing] - that you stand for Allāh, [seeking truth] in pairs and individually, and then give thought." There is not in your companion any madness. He is only a warner to you before a severe punishment.
وَمَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم مِّن كُتُبٍ يَدْرُسُونَهَا ۖ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهِمْ قَبْلَكَ مِن نَّذِيرٍ
And We had not given them any scriptures which they could study, and We had not sent to them before you, [O Muḥammad], any warner.
يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَـٰرِيبَ وَتَمَـٰثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَٱلْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ رَّاسِيَـٰتٍ ۚ ٱعْمَلُوٓا۟ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكْرًا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ
They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles. [We said], "Work, O family of David, in gratitude." And few of My servants are grateful.
وَيَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقَّ وَيَهْدِىٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ
And those who have been given knowledge see that what is revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, and it guides to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy.