Tafseer of The Dawn · Al-Fajr · 89:16
But when He tries him and restricts his provision, he says, "My Lord has humiliated me."
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The statement concerning the interpretation of His word, the Exalted: wa-ammā idhā mā btalāhu fa-qadara ʿalayhi rizqahu fa-yaqūlu rabbī ahānan (But when He tests him and restricts his provision for him, then he says: my Lord has humiliated me) (16).
His word: wa-ammā idhā mā btalāhu fa-qadara ʿalayhi rizqahu (But when He tests him and restricts his provision for him). He says: but when his Lord tries him with poverty, fa-qadara ʿalayhi rizqahu (and restricts his provision for him), He says: then He narrows and straitens his provision for him, so that his wealth does not become abundant and it is not given to him in plenty, fa-yaqūlu rabbī ahānan (then he says: my Lord has humiliated me). He says: then that man says: my Lord has humiliated me, that is to say: He has belittled me with poverty, and he does not thank Allah for the soundness of limbs He has granted him and the well-being He has apportioned to his body.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: wa-ammā idhā mā btalāhu fa-qadara ʿalayhi rizqahu fa-yaqūlu rabbī ahānan (But when He tests him and restricts his provision for him, then he says: my Lord has humiliated me) — how swift is the ingratitude of the son of Adam!
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His word: fa-qadara ʿalayhi rizqahu (and restricts his provision for him), he said: He narrowed it.
The reciters differ over the reading of His word: fa-qadara ʿalayhi rizqahu . The general body of reciters of the cities read this with the light (unghminated) form: "fa-qadara," in the meaning of "fa-qattara" (He straitened), with the exception of Abū Jaʿfar the reciter, for he read this with the gemination: fa-qaddara . It is transmitted from Abū ʿAmr ibn al-ʿAlāʾ that he said: "qaddara" means: He gives him what suffices him; and he said: had He done that with him, he would not have said: my Lord has humiliated me.
The correct reading thereof, according to us, is the light (unghminated) form, on account of the consensus of the authoritative body of reciters thereon.
