سُوْرَةُ الزُّمَرِ
Surah Az-Zumar (39) — Ayah 52
أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿52﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Do they not know that Allâh enlarges the provision for whom He wills, and straitens it (for whom He wills). Verily, in this are signs for the folk who believe!
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَوَلَمْ
awalam
Do not
يَعْلَمُوٓا۟
yaʿlamū
they know
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
يَبْسُطُ
yabsuṭu
extends
ٱلرِّزْقَ
l-riz'qa
the provision
لِمَن
liman
for whom
يَشَآءُ
yashāu
He wills
وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ
wayaqdiru
and restricts
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
فِى
fī
in
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ
laāyātin
surely (are) signs
لِّقَوْمٍۢ
liqawmin
for a people
يُؤْمِنُونَ
yu'minūna
who believe
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 52) ➊ {اَوَ لَمْ يَعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ … :} In the previous verses, it has been stated that the cause of the present and former disbelievers being deceived is the wealth and other blessings granted to them. In their ignorance, they thought that the abundance of wealth and riches was the result of their own skill, capability, and intellect, and that it was proof of their being on the truth and of Allah being pleased with them. It is said that neither the expansion of sustenance depends on anyone’s intellect, wisdom, or skill, nor is its restriction due to a lack of intellect, wisdom, or skill, nor is its abundance or scarcity a sign of Allah’s pleasure or displeasure. Rather, it depends solely and only on Allah’s will; He expands the sustenance of whomever He wills, whether he is righteous or wicked, and restricts it whenever He wills, whether he is righteous or wicked, and no one knows the wisdom behind it except Him. If sustenance depended on intellect, wisdom, skill, or capability, then no scholar or intelligent person would ever face hardship in sustenance, nor would any ignorant or foolish person ever enjoy abundance of sustenance or other blessings.
➋ { اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُّؤْمِنُوْنَ :} That is, in the expansion and restriction of sustenance, there are many signs for the believers, because only they benefit from it and take heed, for only they believe that the One who expands and restricts sustenance is Allah alone, and He makes this decision not based on someone being righteous or wicked, but according to His wisdom and mercy, for He knows the condition of His servants best. Sometimes He restricts the sustenance of His servant because if He were to expand it, the servant would become rebellious and defiant. Sometimes it is intended as a test, to see whether the servant is patient in poverty and hardship or complains against Allah and begins to curse Him. Sometimes He expands sustenance as a favor, as a reward, or to complete the argument against someone.
➋ { اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُّؤْمِنُوْنَ :} That is, in the expansion and restriction of sustenance, there are many signs for the believers, because only they benefit from it and take heed, for only they believe that the One who expands and restricts sustenance is Allah alone, and He makes this decision not based on someone being righteous or wicked, but according to His wisdom and mercy, for He knows the condition of His servants best. Sometimes He restricts the sustenance of His servant because if He were to expand it, the servant would become rebellious and defiant. Sometimes it is intended as a test, to see whether the servant is patient in poverty and hardship or complains against Allah and begins to curse Him. Sometimes He expands sustenance as a favor, as a reward, or to complete the argument against someone.
