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wa-law basaṭa llāhu r-rizqa li-ʿibādihī la-baghaw fī l-ʾarḍi wa-lākin yunazzilu bi-qadarin mā yashāʾu ʾinnahū bi-ʿibādihī khabīrun baṣīrun
Were Allah to expand the provision for [all] His servants, they would surely create havoc on the earth. But He sends down in a [precise] measure whatever He wishes. Indeed, He is all-aware, all-seeing about His servants.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah al-Shura - Verse 27
27. And if Allah were to enlarge the provision for His servants, they would surely rebel in the earth, but He sends down by measure as He wills. Truly! He is in respect of His servants the Well-Aware, the All-Seer.
In the same manner that Divine Bounties are His Favors, depravations are at times Divine Favors. In the same vein, enlarging provision for servants leads at times to their neglect, rebellion, and exceeding limits. Many a servant have trodden the way to perdition owing to mundane possessions. as sending down provision by measure impedes corruption, enlarging the same and granting respites to the affluent serve as trials. Thus provision is measured as per a general rule, but man’s provision may be enlarged as a means of trial.1
Thus, the blessed Verse in question guides believers saying that they should not be saddened by the restriction of their provision, since they are supposed to know that their interest lies in the same and it is preordained by Divine Will and Wisdom that some should have access to less means, since the increase in their provision will lead to the disobedience of the concupiscent soul whetting their vain desires for mundane possessions and making them veer off the path of Divine Law.
Poverty is one of the means of making man approach God Almighty, since the poor believe in the measurement of Divine provision and they are at all times preoccupied by the same and turn to Him and seek their provision from Him. Au contraire, worldly possessions and affluence may preoccupy man with attending to concupiscent desires and he is thus made remote from the Truth, since God Almighty is All-Aware of the affairs of His servants. He restricts the provision and enlarges the same through His Divine Wisdom. It is worthy of note that healthful social relations are prerequisites for rational and well measured life style. Divine Bounties are granted as per Divine Wisdom and Discretion rather than human desires.
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