The benefits of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “And if Allah had expanded provision for His servants, they would have committed excess on the earth, but He sends down [it] in the measure He wills. Indeed, He is with His servants, All-Knowing, All-Seeing.”

Among the benefits of this noble verse is that the expansion and restriction of provision are from Allah alone, as He said: If someone were to ask, “Does this not face the objection that we see a man working, toiling, and trading, and his wealth increases?” We say: No, it does not face this objection, because the origin of his work is from Allah the Mighty and Majestic. It is He who placed the intention in his heart and enabled him to work, so it is from the grace of Allah the Mighty and Majestic. This is one aspect. Another aspect is that we find some people who toil, work, and labor, but they are not successful; every time they try a new approach, their loss increases. In that case, this objection is eliminated from its root. The objection? It is raised against us that a person may trade, work, and earn, so the expansion of provision comes from his work. How do you say that the expansion of provision is from Allah the Mighty and Majestic? This is the objection. What is the answer? ... It means that Allah Blessed and Exalted is He placing the determination in his soul for this and facilitating this trade for him is from Allah the Mighty and Majestic. If Allah had willed, He would not have placed the determination in his heart, and if Allah had willed, He would have prevented him from working. This is one aspect. Another aspect? ... We see in reality people who exert effort and energy in trade, buying and selling, and yet they do not increase except in loss. So, the entire expansion [of provision] is from Allah the Mighty and Majestic, not from its origin, nor from what branches off from it.