Here is the explanation from the chapter in Shaykh AbdurRazzaaq's Book: Fiqhul Asmaa al Husnaa.
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
36. Say (O Muhammad ):
"Verily, my Lord enlarges and restricts the provision to whom He pleases,
but most men know not."
{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
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
اللَّهُ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
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
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:
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
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?"
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."
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,
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.
