“If you must turn away from them while seeking a mercy from your Lord for which you hope, then speak to them graciously. * Do not keep your hand chained to your neck, nor extend it to its fullest extent, lest you be left blameworthy and empty-handed. * Indeed, your Lord expands provision for whomever He wills and restricts it. He is truly All-Aware and All-Seeing of His servants.”

“If you must turn away from them while seeking a mercy from your Lord for which you hope”—that is, if you defer giving to them until another time, hoping that Allah will then make matters easy.

“Then speak to them graciously”—that is, speak kindly and gently, promising to do good when the opportunity arises and apologizing for being unable to give at present, so that they leave you with their hearts reassured. As Allah Most High says: “Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by hurt.”

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This, too, is part of Allah Most High’s kindness toward His servants: He commands them to await mercy and provision from Him, for awaiting these is an act of worship. Likewise, promising them charity and kindness when means become available is a present act of worship, for intending to perform a good deed is itself a good deed. A person should therefore do whatever good he is able to do and intend to do what he is presently unable to do, so that he may be rewarded for it and so that Allah may perhaps enable him to do it [because of his hope] (1).

Allah Most High then informs us that He expands provision for whomever He wills among His servants and restricts and narrows it for whomever He wills, in accordance with His wisdom. “He is truly All-Aware and All-Seeing of His servants.” Thus, He apportions to them what He knows to be good for them and manages their affairs with His kindness and generosity.