ٱللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ وَفَرِحُوا۟ بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعٌ 26
Translations
Allāh extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. And they rejoice in the worldly life, while the worldly life is not, compared to the Hereafter, except [brief] enjoyment.
Transliteration
Allahu yabsutu ar-rizqa liman yasha'u wa yuqaddiru wa farihoo bil-hayati ad-dunya wa ma al-hayatu ad-dunya fil-akhirati illa mata'u
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah expands provision for whom He wills and restricts it for whom He wills, yet people rejoice in worldly life despite its transient nature. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah teaches that both abundance and scarcity of provision come from Allah's divine wisdom, and that those who become attached to material wealth often neglect the eternal life to come. The ayah reminds believers that the worldly life, no matter how abundant its pleasures, is merely temporary enjoyment compared to the eternal reality of the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder), a Medinan surah that addresses themes of divine power, provision, and accountability. The broader context of this surah deals with signs of Allah's existence and the reality of the Day of Judgment, reminding the believers not to be deceived by worldly prosperity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Wealth and children are adornments of life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46, thematic correlation). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet warned against becoming so attached to worldly possessions that one forgets the Hereafter.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers not to be deceived by material abundance or to despair at material scarcity, as both are decreed by Allah for wisdom. It calls us to maintain perspective on life's true purpose: preparing for the eternal Hereafter rather than becoming intoxicated with temporary worldly pleasures.
Related Ayahs
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى رَفَعَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ۖ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ يَجْرِى لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ
It is Allāh who erected the heavens without pillars that you [can] see; then He established Himself above the Throne and made subject the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term. He arranges [each] matter; He details the signs that you may, of the meeting with your Lord, be certain.
۞ أَفَمَن يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ٱلْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَىٰٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
Then is he who knows that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth like one who is blind? They will only be reminded who are people of understanding -
وَٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ ٱبْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِٱلْحَسَنَةِ ٱلسَّيِّئَةَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ
And those who are patient, seeking the face [i.e., acceptance] of their Lord, and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good - those will have the good consequence of [this] home -
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِمُ ٱلْمَثُلَـٰتُ ۗ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ ظُلْمِهِمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
They impatiently urge you to bring about evil before good, while there has already occurred before them similar punishments [to what they demand]. And indeed, your Lord is the possessor of forgiveness for the people despite their wrongdoing, and indeed, your Lord is severe in penalty.