“He answers those who believe and do righteous deeds, and increases them out of His bounty. But the disbelievers will have a severe punishment. (26) If Allah were to expand provision for His servants, they would surely transgress throughout the land; but He sends it down in due measure as He wills. Indeed, He is All-Aware, All-Seeing of His servants. (27)”

“He answers those who believe” 116/a—that is, He answers those who believe (1)—“and do righteous deeds,” when they call upon Him. Ata related from Ibn Abbas: He rewards those who believe. “And He increases them out of His bounty,” beyond the reward for their deeds, as a favor from Him. Abu Salih related from him: He permits them to intercede for their brethren and increases them out of His bounty. He said: for the brethren of their brethren.

“But the disbelievers will have a severe punishment.”

“If Allah were to expand provision for His servants”: Khabbab ibn al-Aratt said: “This verse was revealed concerning us. We looked at the wealth of Banu Qurayzah, Banu al-Nadir, and Banu Qaynuqa, and we wished for it; so Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse.” (2) “If Allah were to expand provision”—that is, if Allah were to make provision abundant—“for His servants, they would surely transgress,” meaning, they would become tyrannical and arrogant, “throughout the land.”

Ibn Abbas said: Their transgression is their seeking one dwelling after another, one mount after another, and one garment after another. “But He sends down” their provision “in due measure, as He wills,” according to His care for His servants. “Indeed, He is All-Aware, All-Seeing of His servants.”

Ahmad ibn Abd Allah al-Salihi informed us; Abu Umar Bakr ibn Muhammad al-Muzani informed us; Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Abd Allah, the grandson of al-Abbas ibn Hamzah, narrated to us; al-Husayn ibn al-Fadl al-Bajali narrated to us; Abu Hafs Umar ibn Said al-Dimashqi narrated to us; Sadaqah narrated from Abd Allah, who said: Hisham al-Kinani narrated to us from Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, from Gabriel, from Allah, exalted is He, who said:

“Allah says: Whoever dishonors a devoted ally of Mine has challenged Me to war. I become angry for My close servants as a furious lion becomes angry. No believing servant draws near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than fulfilling what I have made obligatory for him. My believing servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary deeds until I love him; and when I love him, I become his hearing, his sight, his tongue, his hand, and his supporter. If he calls upon Me, I answer him; and if he asks Me, I give him. I have never hesitated over anything I do as I hesitate over taking the soul of My believing servant: he dislikes death, and I dislike causing him distress, yet he must inevitably undergo it. Among My believing servants are those who ask Me for a particular form of worship, but I withhold it from them lest self-admiration enter them and thereby corrupt them. Among My believing servants are those whose faith can be set right only by wealth; were I to make them poor, that would corrupt them. Among My believing servants are those whose faith can be set right only by poverty; were I to make them wealthy, that would corrupt them. And among My believing servants are those whose faith can be set right only by good health