The Name 'Ar Razzaaq' is found in the Qur'aan once.
Example from the Qur'aan:
51:58
Explanation by Shaykh 'Abdur Rahmaan as Sa'dee:
Other:
Please note that the Shaykh wrote two books on the same topic: a full version and a summarized version. The translation is of the chapter from the full version.
To download the English translation of this chapter on ar Razzaaq Click here
Mukhtasir (Summarized) Fiqh al Asmaa al Husnaa Download pdf in Arabic Click here
Full version Fiqh al Asmaa (in Arabic) Shaykh 'Abdur Razaaq 'Abdul Muhsin al Badr Click here
Understanding Allaah’s Beautiful Names
Fiqhul Asmaa al Husnaa
Chapter: ar Razzaaq الرّزّاق The All-Provider
ar Raaziq الرّازِق the Best of Sustainers
Allaah’s Name ar Razzaaq is found in one place in the Qur’aan. Allaah the Exalted said,
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong.
Dhaariyaat 51:58
Jumu’ah 62:11
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
And verily, it is Allah Who indeed is the Best of those who make provision.
Hajj 22:58
وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of sustainers.
Ma’idah 5:114
The name ar Raaziq The All-Provider occurs in the Prophetic Sunnah. Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه said:
When prices were high in al Madeenah in the time of Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم the people said, ‘O Allaah’s Messenger! Prices have become high so fix them for us’. Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, ‘Allaah is the One who fixes prices, Who witholds, gives lavishly and provides. And I hope that when I meet Allaah, the Most High, none of you will have any claim on me for an injustice regarding blood or property.’ [2]
So Allaah, the far removed from every imperfection, is ar Razzaaq The All-Provider. This means that He takes care of the servants’ provisions and is the One Who is in charge over ever person’s requirements regarding provision. Allaah the Exalted said,
وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا
And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah.
Hood 11:6
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن دَابَّةٍ لَّا تَحْمِلُ رِزْقَهَا اللَّهُ يَرْزُقُهَا وَإِيَّاكُمْ
And so many a moving (living) creature there is, that carries not its own provision! Allah provides for it and for you.
Ankaboot 29:60
وَاللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
And Allah gives (of His Bounty, Blessings, Favours, Honours, etc. on the Day of Resurrection) to whom He wills without limit.
Baqarah 2:212
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ
Truly, your Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills and straitens (for whom He wills).
Israa 17:30
Allaah has reminded His servants in numerous places in the Noble Qur’aan that He alone is the One to provide for them, the One to take care of their needs and provisions. This has been mentioned in the Qur’aan in two situations:
1. In the situation of favours and giving.
2. In the situation of calling to obedience, goodness and perfection.
1. Examples of the first category is Allaah’s Saying,
وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم بَنِينَ وَحَفَدَةً وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ ۚ أَفَبِالْبَاطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَتِ اللَّهِ هُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ
And Allah has made for you wives of your own kind, and has made for you, from your wives, sons and grandsons, and has bestowed on you good provision. Do they then believe in false deities and deny the Favour of Allah (by not worshipping Allah Alone).
Nahl 16:72
وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا
And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with At-Taiyibat (lawful good things), and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preference.
Israa 17:70
اللَّهُ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا وَالسَّمَاءَ بِنَاءً وَصَوَّرَكُمْ فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَكُمْ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Allah, it is He Who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape and made your shapes good (looking) and has provided you with good things. That is Allah, your Lord, then blessed be Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).
Ghaafir 40:64
2. As for the second category, then the Noble Qur’aan has numerous examples where Allaah reminds His servants with this at the time of ordering them with worship and different types of obedience.
An example of that is His Command for them to single Him out alone for worship (Tawheed):
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فِرَاشًا وَالسَّمَاءَ بِنَاءً وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).
22. Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)
Baqarah 2:21-22.
In removing Shirk:
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ رَزَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ هَلْ مِن شُرَكَائِكُم مَّن يَفْعَلُ مِن ذَٰلِكُم مِّن شَيْءٍ ۚ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Allah is He Who created you, then provided food for you, then will cause you to die, then (again) He will give you life (on the Day of Resurrection). Is there any of your (so-called) partners (of Allah) that do anything of that ? Glory be to Him! And Exalted be He above all that (evil) they associate (with Him).
Room 30:40
اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ هَلْ مِنْ خَالِقٍ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ
Remember the Grace of Allah upon you! Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from the sky (rain) and the earth? La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turning away (from Him)?
Faatir :3
The Order to spend in Allaah’s Way:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَّا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خُلَّةٌ وَلَا شَفَاعَةٌ ۗ وَالْكَافِرُونَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
O you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.). Baqarah 2:254
The Order to give thanks:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism)! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allah, if it is indeed He Whom you worship.
Al Baqarah 2:172
The Prohibition on Killing children out of fear of Poverty:
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَاقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ
And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin.
Israa 17:31
The Effects of adhering to Taqwa God Consciousness:
وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ
And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).
Talaq 65:1-2
The Reward for having Faith and doing good deeds:
فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
So those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, for them is forgiveness and Rizqun Karim (generous provision, i.e. Paradise).
Hajj 22:50
Rebuking those who talk about Allaah without knowledge in the matters of the allowed and prohibited (halal and haram):
قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ ۚ
Say (O Muhammad 
): "Who has forbidden the adoration with clothes given by Allah, which He has produced for his slaves, and At-Taiyibat [all kinds of Halal (lawful) things] of food?" Araaf 7:32
): "Who has forbidden the adoration with clothes given by Allah, which He has produced for his slaves, and At-Taiyibat [all kinds of Halal (lawful) things] of food?" Araaf 7:32
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ فَجَعَلْتُم مِّنْهُ حَرَامًا وَحَلَالًا قُلْ آللَّهُ أَذِنَ لَكُمْ ۖ أَمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَفْتَرُونَ
Say (O Muhammad to these polytheists): "Tell me, what provision Allah has sent down to you! And you have made of it lawful and unlawful." Say (O Muhammad ): "Has Allah permitted you (to do so), or do you invent a lie against Allah?"
): "Has Allah permitted you (to do so), or do you invent a lie against Allah?"
Yunus 10:59
Encouragement to strive in seeking permissible provision:
فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِهِ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
He it is, Who has made the earth subservient to you (i.e. easy for you to walk, to live and to do agriculture on it, etc.), so walk in the path thereof and eat of His provision, and to Him will be the Resurrection.
Mulk 67:15
There are numerous aayaat with this meaning.
Allaah’s Provision for His servants are of two types (General and Specific):
1. General provision which encompasses the righteous people and the bad, the believer and the disbeliever, the first and the last. This is provision for the body:
وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا
And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah.
Hood 11:6
This does not mean that Allaah providing for the disbeliever and giving him extensive wealth, children etc. indicates that He is pleased with him. Allaah, the Far removed from every imperfection gives the world to those He loves and those He does not love. Allaah the Exalted said,
وَقَالُوا نَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ أَمْوَالًا وَأَوْلَادًا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ
قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
وَمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُم بِالَّتِي تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا زُلْفَىٰ إِلَّا مَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَزَاءُ الضِّعْفِ بِمَا عَمِلُوا وَهُمْ فِي الْغُرُفَاتِ آمِنُونَ
And they say: "We are more in wealth and in children, and we are not going to be punished."
36. Say (O Muhammad ): "Verily, my Lord enlarges and restricts the provision to whom He pleases, but most men know not."
): "Verily, my Lord enlarges and restricts the provision to whom He pleases, but most men know not."
37. And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us (i.e. pleases Allah), but only he (will please Us) who believes (in the Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds; as for such, there will be twofold reward for what they did, and they will reside in the high dwellings (Paradise) in peace and security.
Saba 34:35-37
أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُم بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ
نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ ۚ بَل لَّا يَشْعُرُونَ
Do they think that We enlarge them in wealth and children,
56. We hasten unto them with good things (in this worldly life so that they will have no share of good things in the Hereafter)? Nay, but they perceive not.
Mu’minoon 23:55-56
كُلًّا نُّمِدُّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ وَهَٰؤُلَاءِ مِنْ عَطَاءِ رَبِّكَ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ عَطَاءُ رَبِّكَ مَحْظُورًا
انظُرْ كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَلَلْآخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَاتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلًا
To each these as well as those We bestow from the Bounties of your Lord. And the Bounties of your Lord can never be forbidden.
21. See how We prefer one above another (in this world) and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preference.
Israa 17:20-21
Extensive provision in the worldly life is not a proof of a servant’s nobility in Allaah Sight. Just the same as restricted provision is not a proof that the servant is insignificant in Allaah’s Sight.
فَأَمَّا الْإِنسَانُ إِذَا مَا ابْتَلَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَأَكْرَمَهُ وَنَعَّمَهُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّي أَكْرَمَنِ
وَأَمَّا إِذَا مَا ابْتَلَاهُ فَقَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقَهُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّي أَهَانَنِ
كَلَّا ۖ بَل لَّا تُكْرِمُونَ الْيَتِيمَ
As for man, when his Lord tries him by giving him honour and gifts, then he says (puffed up): "My Lord has honoured me."
17. Nay! But you treat not the orphans with kindness and generosity (i.e. you neither treat them well, nor give them their exact right of inheritance)!
Fajr 89:15-17
This means that not everyone whom Allaah has blessed in the world is honoured in His Sight and not everyone who has restricted means is humiliated in Allaah’s Sight. Wealth, poverty, ease and restriction are tests and trials from Allaah in order to know who is grateful or ungrateful, patient or impatient.
2. The Second type of provision is the Specific Provision.
This is the provision of the hearts - feeding them with knowledge, faith and halal provision which help to rectify their religion. This is specific to the believers according to their levels that they deserve according to His Wisdom and Mercy. Allaah completes His generosity upon them from Him by admitting them into blessed gardens on the Day of Resurrection. Allaah the Exalted says,
وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۖ قَدْ أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ لَهُ رِزْقًا
And whosoever believes in Allah and performs righteous good deeds, He will admit him into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. Allah has indeed granted for him an excellent provision.
Talaq 65:11
{هَٰذَا ذِكْرٌ ۚ وَإِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ لَحُسْنَ مَآبٍ (49) جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ مُّفَتَّحَةً لَّهُمُ الْأَبْوَابُ (50) مُتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِفَاكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ وَشَرَابٍ (51) ۞ وَعِندَهُمْ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ أَتْرَابٌ (52) هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِيَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ (53) إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَرِزْقُنَا مَا لَهُ مِن نَّفَادٍ 54
This is a Reminder, and verily, for the Muttaqun (pious and righteous persons) is a good final return (Paradise),
50. 'Adn (Edn) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), whose doors will be open for them, that one can speak to the doors, just one tells it to open and close, and it will open or close as it is ordered].
52. And beside them will be chaste females (virgins) restraining their glances only for their husbands, (and) of equal ages.
Saad 38:49-54
Allaah the Free from every imperfection has warned us about busying ourselves in the perishable provisions of this Life over the provisions of the everlasting Next Life. Allaah the Exalted Said,
مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ ۖ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ ۗ
Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever with Allah (of good deeds) will remain
Nahl 16:96
بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا
وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ
Nay, you prefer the life of this world;
17. Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting
A’laa 86:16-17
The intelligent person is the one who does not busy himself with the many worldy provisions over the reason that he was created and brought into existence to achieve: this is to worship Allaah and make the religion sincere for Him. Allaah the free from every imperfection said,
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
مَا أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them (i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures).
Dhariyaat 51:56-7
He should use that as a path to earn Allaah’s pleasure and attain the blessed gardens.
جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِي وَعَدَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ عِبَادَهُ بِالْغَيْبِ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ وَعْدُهُ مَأْتِيًّا
لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا إِلَّا سَلَامًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ رِزْقُهُمْ فِيهَا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا
تِلْكَ الْجَنَّةُ الَّتِي نُورِثُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا مَن كَانَ تَقِيًّا
(They will enter) 'Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), which the Most Beneficent (Allah) has promised to His slaves in the unseen: Verily! His Promise must come to pass.
62. They shall not hear therein (in Paradise) any Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk), but only Salam (salutations of peace). And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and afternoon. [See (V.40:55)].
63. Such is the Paradise which We shall give as an inheritance to those of Our slaves who have been Al-Muttaqun (pious and righteous persons). Maryam 61-63
Allaah make us of His God-Fearing servants and allow us to inherit the blessed gardens through His Benevolence and Generosity– Indeed the Exalted is All-Hearing, Responsive.
[2] Sunan Abi Dawood no. 3451; at Tirmidhee no. 1314; Ibn Majah no. 2200; Musnad Ahmad 3/156 and others with a sound chain.
Translator`s note (TN): English Source: Bulugh al Maram Darussalam. P262. No. 679.
