42. Ash-Shura (Consultation)

Mecca Period 53

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

اللَّهُ لَطِيفٌ ...

42: 19. Gracious is Allah

C4552. Latif so kind, gracious, and understanding, as to bestow gifts finely suited to the needs of the recipients.

For the various meanings of Latif, see n. 2844 to 22:63.

Cf. also 12:100.

... بِعِبَادِهِ ...

to His servants:

C4553. "Servants" here seems to include all men, just and unjust, for Allah provides for them all.

... يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَاء...

He gives Sustenance to whom He pleases:

C4554. Sustenance, i.e., provision for all needs.

"To whom He pleases" is not restrictive, but modal, 'Allah provides for all, but His provision is according to His wise Will and Plan, and not according to people's extravagant demands.' He can provide for all, because He has complete power and can carry out His Will.

A further comment will be found in the next verse.

...وَهُوَ الْقَوِيُّ العَزِيزُ ﴿١٩﴾

and He has Power and can carry out His Will.

Asad’s Version:

42:19

GOD is most kind unto His creatures: He provides sustenance for whomever He wills - for He alone is powerful, almighty!

(42:20) To him who desires a harvest in the life to come, We shall grant an increase in his harvest; whereas to him who desires [but] a harvest in this world, We [may] give something thereof - but he will have no share in [the blessings of] the life to come. 24

[[ Asad’s note - 24 I.e., whereas those who live righteously and turn their endeavours towards spiritual ends are sure to receive in the hereafter more than they are hoping for, those who strive exclusively after worldly rewards may - but not necessarily will - achieve something, and not necessarily all, of their aims, without having any reason to expect "a share in the blessings" that await the righteous in the hereafter. ]]