Allaah enlarges Provision and Restricts it

 

Tafseer Sa’dee

Soorah ash Shooraa [42:27]: Wealth[1]

 

 

وَلَوْ بَسَطَ اللَّهُ الرِّزْقَ لِعِبَادِهِ لَبَغَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن يُنَزِّلُ بِقَدَرٍ مَّا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِعِبَادِهِ خَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ

27. and if Allâh were to enlarge the provision for his slaves, they would surely rebel in the earth, but He sends down by measure as He wills. Verily! He is in respect of his slaves, the Well-Aware, the All-Seer (of things that benefit them).

 

 

and if Allâh were to enlarge the provision for his slaves, they would surely rebel in the earth

 

This means that they would be negligent in obedience to Allaah. They would occupy themselves with enjoyment of worldly desires. It would make them pursue what their souls desire even if it be sinful or oppressive.

 

but He sends down by measure as He wills.

 

According to what his Lutf[2] (لطف ) and Wisdom necessitate.

 

Verily! He is in respect of his slaves, the Well-Aware, the All-Seer (of things that benefit them).

 

In some narrations Allaah, the Exalted says:

 

“There are some servants whose faith will not be corrected except through being rich. If he were poor, it would corrupt it. There are other servants whose faith will not be corrected except through being poor. If he were rich, it would corrupt it. There are yet other servants whose faith will not be corrected except by having good health. If he were sick, it would corrupt it. There are other servants whose faith will not be corrected except through sickness and if he were well it would corrupt it. Indeed I manage the affair of my servants through My knowledge of what is in their hearts. Indeed, I am Well-Aware, the All-Seer.

 

 

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[1] Translated by Umm ‘Abdir Rahmaan Tara bint Hashim 1431/2010.

[2] Translator’s note: Shaykh Sa’dee explains the meaning of Allaah’s Name, ‘al Lateef’, at the end of his tafseer: The One whose knowledge encompasses all the secret and hidden matters, the One who is aware of all that is hidden and is aware of subtle matters. The One who is kind to his believing servants, delivering what will benefit them through His kindness and perfection through means that they would not expect. It also shares the meaning of al Khabeer and ar Ra’oof.