Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Say: ‘Indeed, my Lord expands provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts it for him.’”

Then he said: The address is directed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and it is permissible that it is intended to include everyone to whom it is valid to direct the address. It addresses those who strive in our verses as challenges, saying: "Allah is incapable of what they claim." This broadens the meaning of *yubsid* (to expand), which comes from *basat* (expansion) and means widening. That is why it is said: "expand the speech" and "summarize the speech." Expanding it means widening and lengthening it, and *rizq* (provision) means giving. from among His servants as a trial We narrow it after expanding it, or as a trial. Be attentive. His statement: We have mentioned to you many times that every action Allah has linked to His will is accompanied by wisdom. So His will, (Glorified and Exalted is He), is subordinate to His wisdom. If His wisdom dictates that He expand the provision for someone, He expands it; and if His wisdom dictates that He restrict it, He restricts it. And His saying: The intended meaning of "servants" is general servitude, because it is observed that both disbelievers and believers are equally among those for whom Allah expands provision and those for whom He restricts it. Therefore, the intended meaning of "servants" is general servitude. It has been mentioned to us previously that servitude is divided into general and specific. The general type encompasses all of creation, and it refers to cosmic servitude, about which Allah said: As for the specific type, it is the servitude of obedience to the Shari'ah, which is what He said regarding it: to the end of it. Now, regarding "from among His servants," the author said:"as a trial"What is the meaning of *imtihan* (trial)? It means a test to see whether one is grateful or ungrateful. For this reason, Sulayman (peace be upon him) said:[النمل:40] when he saw the throne of Bilqis present before him in this brief period, he said: And Allah the Exalted said: meaning a trial and a test. How many people were in a state of poverty and were better off than they were after becoming wealthy, and how many people were the opposite: poor and extravagant with themselves, but when Allah enriched them and guided them... Allah (Mighty and Majestic) expands sustenance for whom He wills according to what wisdom requires. He said: Does it refer to the one for whom it was expanded, or does it refer to whom He wills in general? The author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned both meanings. He said: He narrows it for him after expanding it. This means that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) expands the provision for whom He wills, then narrows it for him to test him. He grants blessings and then removes them as a trial and examination. He bestows children upon a person, and they die; He bestows wealth, and it is consumed. Is this narrowing after what? After the expansion, or is the meaning that it is for whom He wills, not specifically for the one whose provision had been expanded. This means that He (Glorified and Exalted is He) expands the provision... and determines it to test him. Do the two meanings contradict each other? No. And if they do not contradict each other, we have previously mentioned that the rule in exegesis is that the two meanings do not contradict each other, so the verse is applicable to both of them.