“Or have We sent down to them an authority which speaks in support of what they associate with Him?” (35)

“And when We let people taste mercy, they rejoice in it; but if an evil befalls them because of what their hands have sent forth, behold, they despair.” (36)

“Have they not seen that Allah extends provision to whom He wills and restricts it? Surely in that are signs for a people who believe.” (37)

“So give the relative his due, as well as the needy and the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek the Countenance of Allah, and it is they who will prosper.” (38)

“Whatever you give as a gift seeking increase through people’s wealth does not increase with Allah; but whatever zakah you give, seeking the Countenance of Allah—it is they who shall receive manifold increase.” (39)

“Or have We sent down to them an authority?” Ibn Abbas said: a proof and an excuse. Qatadah said: a book. “Which speaks”: that is, which declares. “In support of what they associate with Him”: that is, it speaks of their associating partners with Him and commands them to do so.

“And when We let people taste mercy”: that is, fertility and abundant rainfall. “They rejoice in it”: meaning, they rejoice with the exultance of arrogant complacency. “But if an evil befalls them”: that is, drought and scant rainfall; it is also said to mean fear and affliction. “Because of what their hands have sent forth”: namely, evil deeds. “Behold, they despair”: they despair of Allah’s mercy. This is contrary to the description of the believer, for he gives thanks to Allah when blessed and hopes in his Lord in times of hardship.

“Have they not seen that Allah extends provision to whom He wills and restricts it? Surely in that are signs for a people who believe.”

Allah’s saying, “So give the relative his due”: kindness and maintaining family ties; “as well as the needy”: his due is that charity be given to him; “and the wayfarer”: meaning, the traveler. It was also said that he is the weak person. “That is best for those who seek the Countenance of Allah”: they seek Allah’s reward through what they do. “And it is they who will prosper.”

Allah’s saying, “Whatever you give as a gift seeking increase”: Ibn Kathir recited it as ataytum, with a short initial vowel, while the others recited it as ataytum, with a long initial vowel, meaning: whatever you have given. According to the reading with the short vowel, its meaning is: whatever increase you bring. Their bringing it is in the sense of giving, just as one says, “I committed an error,” or, “I did what was right.” Thus, in meaning, it comes back to the reading of those who recited it with the long vowel.

“So that you may increase through people’s wealth”: the people of Madinah and Yaqub recited it as li-turbū, addressing the audience—meaning, so that you yourselves may increase and become possessed of an increase from people’s wealth. The others recited it as li-yarbū, making the verb refer to the gift seeking increase, in view of His saying, “It does not increase with Allah”—that is, through taking hold of and drawing to oneself people’s wealth.