The Difference Between “Fear of Poverty” and “From Poverty”

The Shaykh:
Mm.

The questioner:
Among the questions is: What is the reason for the expression in the word of Allah the Exalted in Surat al-Isra, “fear of poverty” (khashiyyat imlaq), and in Surat al-An’am, “from poverty” (min imlaq)?

The Shaykh:
The scholars have answered this. The phrase “fear of poverty” refers to killing the children before poverty actually occurs; “fear” here means that it is anticipated to happen in the future. As for “from poverty,” it refers to killing them while in a state of poverty, at the time poverty actually strikes. They were permitted to kill their children in that case because this poverty did not come about because of the children, but rather it came by the decree of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.
Therefore, the cure for removing poverty is not killing the children. The cure is to turn to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, and to ask Allah for provision from His bounty and His treasuries, and to repent from sins. This is the cause; it lies in the sins. Yes. So, to sum up, “fear of poverty” means in the future, anticipating the future. As for “from poverty,” it refers to the state of poverty and the occurrence of poverty. Yes.