Surah Ash-Shura (42) — Ayah 19

(Ayah 19) ➊ { اَللّٰهُ لَطِيْفٌۢ بِعِبَادِهٖ: ’’ لَطِيْفٌ‘‘} Something that cannot be grasped. The attribute of Allah "Latif" is in the sense that He is aware of the finest of things, and also in the sense that His planning is extremely subtle, which cannot be seen. In this sense, it also means the One who shows kindness and grace, as He bestows favors in such a subtle way that it cannot be perceived how it happened. (Mufradat) Thus, in {’’ لَطِيْفٌ‘‘}, two attributes are combined: one is extremely perceptive, and the other is extremely kind. Included in these is perfect knowledge, without which there can be no question of subtle perception. For Allah to be "Latif" to His servants means that no material or spiritual need of theirs, however small, is hidden from Him, and with His perfect kindness and subtle ways, He arranges such that every servant, indeed every creature, has its needs fulfilled according to its condition, and it does not even realize how they were fulfilled. Some scholars have said that although the word {’’ بِعِبَادِهٖ ‘‘} is general, here it refers to Allah's believing servants, and some have said that in {’’ بِعِبَادِهٖ ‘‘} both believers and disbelievers are included; in this world, both benefit from His general kindness, but in the Hereafter, His kindness and grace will be exclusive to the believers.

➋ { يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ:} That is why, despite countless people among them denying and mocking, He does not let them starve, but fulfills all their needs with His kindness and grace. However, He gives provision to whom He wills and as much as He wills, and if He wishes to close someone's account of sustenance, He does so. The relevance of mentioning this here is that most people, in pursuit of sustenance, forget the Provider.

➌ { وَ هُوَ الْقَوِيُّ:} That is, whatever He wishes to do, to whomever He wishes to give as much provision as He wills, He has full power over it, and is not dependent on anyone in any matter.

➍ {الْعَزِيْزُ:} That is, just as in all other matters, in the matter of provision as well, no one has any power over Him that if He wishes to give, anyone can prevent Him, or if He does not wish to give, anyone can take from Him. The word {’’ الْقَوِيُّ الْعَزِيْزُ ‘‘} with the definite article "al" creates exclusivity, meaning both attributes are only in Him, not in anyone else, as was said: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ لاَ مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ ، وَلاَ مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ ] [ بخاري، القدر، باب لا مانع لما أعطی اللّٰہ : ۶۶۱۵ ] "O Allah! There is no withholder of what You give, and no giver of what You withhold."

And whoever intends the harvest of the Hereafter, We will increase for him in his harvest. 1. And whoever desires the harvest of this world, We will give him some of it, but he will have no share in the Hereafter.

Allah is very kind [29] to His servants; He gives provision [30] to whom He wills. And He is the Powerful, the Mighty.

[29]
The Meaning of "Latif":

The meaning of "Latif" is generally taken as "Kind." But its meaning cannot be conveyed in Urdu by a single word. In the root "lutf," two basic aspects are found: (1) Subtlety of perception, (2) Gentleness, (Maqayis al-Lughah). And in the meaning of "Latif," sometimes only one aspect is found, i.e., subtlety of perception or keen insight or awareness of secrets or even the smallest details. For example, as in: ﴿لَا تُدْرِكُهُ الْاَبْصَارُ٘ وَهُوَ یُدْرِكُ الْاَبْصَارَۚ وَهُوَ اللَّطِیْفُ الْخَبِیْرُ﴾ [104:6]. And sometimes both aspects are present. As in this place, both things are present. That is, Allah Almighty has knowledge and awareness of His servants' smallest and tiniest difficulties, and then, out of kindness, He removes them. Similarly, He takes care of His servants' smallest needs and necessities, and then, out of kindness, He continues to fulfill them.

[30] That is, Allah Almighty's "lutf" is general, which reaches all servants equally. But the matter of sustenance is different from this. It is not given to everyone equally. Rather, according to His wisdom, He gives more to some and less to others; this depends on His will. However, He certainly gives to everyone. The amount of sustenance He has written in someone's destiny—no power or being can increase its amount, nor can anyone decrease or withhold his sustenance. Because He Himself is the most powerful and mighty of all.