Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Truly, your Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills and straitens (for whom He wills). Verily, He is Ever All-Knower, All-Seer of His slaves.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّinnaIndeed
رَبَّكَrabbakayour Lord
يَبْسُطُyabsuṭuextends
ٱلرِّزْقَl-riz'qathe provision
لِمَنlimanfor whom
يَشَآءُyashāuHe wills
وَيَقْدِرُ ۚwayaqdiruand straitens
إِنَّهُۥinnahuIndeed, He
كَانَkānais
بِعِبَادِهِۦbiʿibādihiof His slaves
خَبِيرًۢاkhabīranAll-Aware
بَصِيرًۭاbaṣīranAll-Seer
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.
(Ayah 30) ➊ { اِنَّرَبَّكَيَبْسُطُالرِّزْقَلِمَنْيَّشَآءُوَيَقْدِرُ:} That is, if the reason for excessive spending is that you want to remove someone’s poverty, then this is not in your control. No matter how much you give, if the Lord Almighty does not open the door of sustenance for him, no one can open it. You should spend moderately according to Allah’s command; worrying about his poverty or wealth is not your responsibility, nor is it within your power.
➋ { اِنَّهٗكَانَبِعِبَادِهٖخَبِيْرًۢابَصِيْرًا :} That is, He knows well whom to give how much sustenance. Giving more to some and less to others is His wisdom. (See Shura: 27) If everyone were equal, the affairs of the world could not run. (See Zukhruf: 22) Being wealthy or poor does not depend on virtue or vice, but is solely dependent on the will of Allah Almighty. (See Zukhruf: 33 to 35) This difference cannot be forcibly erased, as was the desire and effort of the communists and socialists, for which they slaughtered millions, but failed. Because this is a war against nature, which can never succeed. As for capitalism, where through interest and other unlawful means, all wealth becomes the property of only a few people and the rest become dependent on them, this too is not approved by Allah Almighty, and wherever this system exists, that society will also become a victim of unlimited oppression and greed. The reality is that it is not necessary to eliminate the difference between rich and poor, but to keep it moderate. For this, Allah Almighty on one hand declared it unlawful to acquire wealth through unlawful means, declaring all forms of theft, robbery, usurpation, deception, and interest as forbidden, and on the other hand, commanded that wealth earned through lawful means should be distributed in society through zakat, charity, inheritance, and other rulings. By acting on these commands, moderation will be maintained between wealth and poverty in society; then, neither will there be the oppressions that arise from the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few as in America and European countries due to capitalism, nor will there be the evils that arose in Russia, China, and other communist countries from trying to eliminate this natural difference forcibly and artificially, where humans fell from the rank of humanity to mere animals, people were deprived of their natural freedom, until finally, all countries based on this system, due to failure, were forced to abandon it, and the oppressed Muslims and non-Muslims living there, all were blessed with deliverance from this system and a life of freedom through the blessing of the Muslims’ jihad. (So all praise is for Allah) Even now, although its remnants exist there, due to which oppression and injustice have not been completely eradicated, it is therefore the duty of Muslims to deliver the whole world from capitalism, communism, and all other oppressive systems, and to implement the Islamic system of justice. This work, by the grace of Allah, has begun, and through the blessing of Islamic jihad, Allah’s religion will prevail over the whole world. (InshaAllah) As He said: «هُوَالَّذِيْۤاَرْسَلَرَسُوْلَهٗبِالْهُدٰىوَدِيْنِالْحَقِّلِيُظْهِرَهٗعَلَىالدِّيْنِكُلِّهٖوَلَوْكَرِهَالْمُشْرِكُوْنَ »[ التوبۃ : ۳۳ ] “He it is Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, so that He may make it prevail over every religion, even though the polytheists may dislike it.”