The verse (meaning-focused translation)
اَللّٰهُ يَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ يَّشَآءُ وَيَقۡدِرُؕ وَفَرِحُوۡا بِالۡحَيٰوةِ الدُّنۡيَا ؕ وَمَا الۡحَيٰوةُ الدُّنۡيَا فِى الۡاٰخِرَةِ اِلَّا مَتَاعٌ
“Allah extends provision for whom He wills and restricts it. They rejoice in the life of this world, but the life of this world compared to the Hereafter is only a fleeting enjoyment.” (13:26)
This single verse touches three of the most sensitive human realities: (1) rizq (provision), (2) happiness, and (3) illusion. Let us expand its meaning and how can this single verse if understood and correctly reflected upon can change our orientation to the worldly life and shape it for a permanent life of the hereafter.
Context within Surah Ar-Raʿd
Surah Ar-Raʿd consistently contrasts: (1) Visible power vs unseen control, (2) Temporary life vs permanent reality, (3) Human assumptions vs divine wisdom.
Just before and after this verse, the Surah speaks about: (1) People who demand signs (13:7), (2) The certainty of divine knowledge (13:8–10), (3) The laws of change in societies (13:11), (4) Natural power and human argument (13:12–13), and (5) The contrast between truth and falsehood (13:17). So 13:26 fits into a larger message and which is "Your material condition is not proof of your worth, truth, or ultimate success."
As per revered Muslim scholar Ibn Kathir, the verse serves as a reminder to focus on the eternal life rather than being distracted by the, often misleading,, temporary enjoyment of this world. This verse has two distinct parts: (1) Allah alone determines, increases, and restricts sustenance (provision) based on His wisdom and will. (2) Then Allah highlights that worldly abundance is merely a temporary enjoyment (trial) that cannot be compared to the everlasting, superior, and true life in the Hereafter.
Rizq / Means of sustenance
In the first part of the verse Allah proclaims that is it He alone who extends rizq / provision and restricts. To some this may appear to be random cruelty, that is giving to some and restricting others from having what other have.
In fact in Qur’anic worldview, Expansion of provision may be: (1) A test of gratitude and arrogance, (2) A means of influence, (3) A form of delayed accountability, while Restriction of provision may be: (1) A test of patience, (2) A purification, (3) A protection from arrogance, (4) A redirection toward higher values.
This part of the verse thus outlines the key Islamic principle that Rizq is not a scoreboard of divine approval. This directly challenges a modern (and ancient) assumption that If I am succeeding financially, I must be right. The Qur’an dismantles this notion.
World famous exegete of Al Qur'an Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi is thus of the view that: