سُوْرَةُ الرَّعْدِ
Surah Ar-Ra'd (13) — Ayah 26
ٱللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ وَفَرِحُوا۟ بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعٌ ﴿26﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Allâh increases the provision for whom He wills, and straitens (it for whom He wills), and they rejoice in the life of the world, whereas the life of this world as compared with the Hereafter is but a brief passing enjoyment.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱللَّهُ
al-lahu
Allah
يَبْسُطُ
yabsuṭu
extends
ٱلرِّزْقَ
l-riz'qa
the provision
لِمَن
liman
for whom
يَشَآءُ
yashāu
He wills
وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ
wayaqdiru
and restricts
وَفَرِحُوا۟
wafariḥū
And they rejoice
بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ
bil-ḥayati
in the life
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
(of) the world
وَمَا
wamā
and nothing
ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ
l-ḥayatu
(is) the life
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
of the world
فِى
fī
in (comparison to)
ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ
l-ākhirati
the Hereafter
إِلَّا
illā
except
مَتَـٰعٌۭ
matāʿun
an enjoyment
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah26) ➊ { اَللّٰهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ …:} The cause of misguidance for many people becomes this doubt: why are the disobedient to Allah prosperous in the world? Its answer is given, that is, abundance or restriction of sustenance in the world is not a criterion by which a person's being favored or unfavored by Allah can be decided. Sometimes He gives the disbeliever abundant means of luxury and imposes hardship on the believer, so that both may be tested. The believer, due to his patience and gratitude, attains high ranks in the Hereafter, and the disbeliever remains unsuccessful, and therefore his abode in the Hereafter is evil. Therefore, despite the evil deeds of misguided people, no one should be deceived by their luxury and comfort; rather, this is merely a respite that is given to the disbeliever in the world. (Ruh al-Ma'ani)
➋ The tanween of { وَ فَرِحُوْا بِالْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا … : ’’ مَتَاعٌ ‘‘} is for diminution and contempt, that is, a little, insignificant provision, meaning the disbelievers are exulting over the comforts of worldly life, whereas in comparison to the Hereafter, this is merely a little and insignificant provision for a short time. Al-Mustawrid bin Shaddad (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ وَاللّٰهِ! مَا الدُّنْيَا فِيْ الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مِثْلُ مَا يَجْعَلُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِصْبَعَهُ هٰذِهِ ــ وَأَشَارَ يَحْيَی بِالسَّبَّابَةِ ــ فِي الْيَمِّ، فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَحَدُكُمْ بِمَ تَرْجِعُ ] [مسلم، الجنۃ وصفۃ نعیمھا، باب فناء الدنیا… : ۲۸۵۸ ] "By Allah! The world in comparison to the Hereafter is nothing except like this example: that one of you puts his finger"—and the narrator Yahya pointed with his index finger—"into the sea, then let him see what it brings back." Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) states: [ نَامَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلٰی حَصِيْرٍ فَقَامَ وَقَدْ أَثَّرَ فِيْ جَنْبِهِ، فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ! لَوِ اتَّخَذْنَا لَكَ وِطَاءً، فَقَالَ مَا لِيْ وَ لِلدُّنْيَا، مَا أَنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ كَرَاكِبٍ اسْتَظَلَّ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ، ثُمَّ رَاحَ وَتَرَكَهَا ] [ ترمذی، الزھد، باب حدیث ما الدنیا إلا کراکب استظل : ۲۳۷۷ ] "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) slept on a mat, and when he got up, the mat had left marks on his side. We said, 'O Messenger of Allah! Should we not make a soft bedding for you?' He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, 'What have I to do with the world! I am in the world only like a rider who rested under the shade of a tree, then left it and moved on.'"
➋ The tanween of { وَ فَرِحُوْا بِالْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا … : ’’ مَتَاعٌ ‘‘} is for diminution and contempt, that is, a little, insignificant provision, meaning the disbelievers are exulting over the comforts of worldly life, whereas in comparison to the Hereafter, this is merely a little and insignificant provision for a short time. Al-Mustawrid bin Shaddad (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ وَاللّٰهِ! مَا الدُّنْيَا فِيْ الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مِثْلُ مَا يَجْعَلُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِصْبَعَهُ هٰذِهِ ــ وَأَشَارَ يَحْيَی بِالسَّبَّابَةِ ــ فِي الْيَمِّ، فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَحَدُكُمْ بِمَ تَرْجِعُ ] [مسلم، الجنۃ وصفۃ نعیمھا، باب فناء الدنیا… : ۲۸۵۸ ] "By Allah! The world in comparison to the Hereafter is nothing except like this example: that one of you puts his finger"—and the narrator Yahya pointed with his index finger—"into the sea, then let him see what it brings back." Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) states: [ نَامَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلٰی حَصِيْرٍ فَقَامَ وَقَدْ أَثَّرَ فِيْ جَنْبِهِ، فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ! لَوِ اتَّخَذْنَا لَكَ وِطَاءً، فَقَالَ مَا لِيْ وَ لِلدُّنْيَا، مَا أَنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ كَرَاكِبٍ اسْتَظَلَّ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ، ثُمَّ رَاحَ وَتَرَكَهَا ] [ ترمذی، الزھد، باب حدیث ما الدنیا إلا کراکب استظل : ۲۳۷۷ ] "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) slept on a mat, and when he got up, the mat had left marks on his side. We said, 'O Messenger of Allah! Should we not make a soft bedding for you?' He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, 'What have I to do with the world! I am in the world only like a rider who rested under the shade of a tree, then left it and moved on.'"
