51. Adh-Dhariyat (The Dust-Scattering Winds)

Mecca Period 67

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

 مَا أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ ﴿٥٧﴾

51: 57.  No sustenance do I require of them nor do I require that they should feed Me.

C5033. Sustenance: in both the literal and the figurative sense; so also "Freed Me" at the end of the verse.

Allah is independent of all needs. It is therefore absurd to suppose that He should require any Sustenance, and still more absurd to suppose that we can feed Him! The gifts, the Sustenance, the goodness, all come from His side.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ ﴿٥٨﴾

51: 58.  For Allah is He Who gives (all) Sustenance, Lord of Power, Steadfast (for ever).

C5034. Allah commands all power; therefore any power we seek must be from Him. And His power is steadfast, the same to-day as yesterday, and for ever. Therefore His help is always sure.

Asad’s Version:

(51:57) [But withal,] no sustenance do I ever demand of them, nor do I demand that they feed Me:

(51:58) for, verily, God Himself is the Provider of all sustenance, the Lord of all might, the Eternal!