أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ 37
Translations
Do they not see that Allāh extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]? Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.
Transliteration
Awalam yaraw anna Allaha yabsutu ar-rizqa liman yasha'u wa yaqdur. Inna fee dhalika la-ayatin liqawmin yu'minun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes Allah's absolute control over sustenance (rizq), expanding it for whom He wills and restricting it for whom He wills. The verse serves as a sign (ayah) of Allah's wisdom and divine providence, comprehensible only to those who possess genuine faith (iman). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that the variation in wealth and provisions among people is itself an evidence of Allah's power and wisdom, testing human character through different circumstances.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ar-Rum, a Meccan surah that addresses the polytheists of Mecca who attributed their prosperity and misfortune to false deities. The broader context of the surah discusses signs of Allah's sovereignty in creation and history. This particular verse responds to the pagan Arabs' assumption that their gods controlled their livelihoods, redirecting them to recognize Allah alone as the Provider.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), which relates to how rizq should be utilized. Additionally, the hadith 'Verily, the best of sustenance is that which is sufficient' emphasizes contentment with Allah's provision.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that wealth, poverty, and all forms of provision are ultimately from Allah alone, liberating hearts from dependence on false sources and fostering trust in divine wisdom. Understanding this truth cultivates gratitude in abundance and patience in scarcity, strengthening one's relationship with Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِى هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۚ وَلَئِن جِئْتَهُم بِـَٔايَةٍ لَّيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُبْطِلُونَ
And We have certainly presented to the people in this Qur’ān from every [kind of] example. But, [O Muḥammad], if you should bring them a sign, the disbelievers will surely say, "You [believers] are but falsifiers."
فِى بِضْعِ سِنِينَ ۗ لِلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْرُ مِن قَبْلُ وَمِنۢ بَعْدُ ۚ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Within three to nine years. To Allāh belongs the command [i.e., decree] before and after. And that day the believers will rejoice
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُم مِّن شُرَكَآئِهِمْ شُفَعَـٰٓؤُا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ كَـٰفِرِينَ
And there will not be for them among their [alleged] partners any intercessors, and they will [then] be disbelievers in their partners.
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ ٱلْقَيِّمِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصَّدَّعُونَ
So direct your face [i.e., self] toward the correct religion before a Day comes from Allāh of which there is no repelling. That Day, they will be divided.