42:12

لَهُۥ مَقَالِيدُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقۡدِرُۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٞ

Lahu maqaleedu alssamawati waalardi yabsutu alrrizqa liman yashao wayaqdiru innahu bikulli shayin AAaleemun

To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. He extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is, of all things, Knowing.

Word by word
  1. لَهُۥTo Him (belongs)
  2. مَقَالِيدُ(the) keys
  3. ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ(of) the heavens
  4. وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖand the earth
  5. يَبۡسُطُHe extends
  6. ٱلرِّزۡقَthe provision
  7. لِمَنfor whom
  8. يَشَآءُHe wills
  9. وَيَقۡدِرُۚand restricts
  10. إِنَّهُۥIndeed,He
  11. بِكُلِّof every
  12. شَيۡءٍthing
  13. عَلِيمٞ(is) All-Knower
Ash-Shuraa · 42:12Makkah

He holds the keys, and measures out provision.

More for some, less for others, all with knowledge


Who holds the keys
keys of heavens, earthHe governs them
He
expandsfor whom He wills
restrictswith wisdom
What less provision means
I am unloved
measured by knowledgewise and just

Ibn Kathir says the keys mean He is the One controlling and governing them. He gives plenty to some and less to others, and He is perfectly Wise and Just, knowing all things.

Your friend's salary is double yours. Your sibling just bought a house. You check your bank app and feel small. The One with the keys measured both shares, knowing what each of you needs.

If I have less than others, Allah must be less pleased with me.

Provision is measured with wisdom and knowledge. More or less is not a verdict on my worth.

Try this

Thank Allah for one thing you have today without comparing it to anyone.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 42:9)

Or have they taken protecting friends besides Him? But Allah – He Alone is the protector. And He Who gives life to the dead, and He is Able to do all things (9)And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof is with Allah. Such is Allah, my Lord in Whom I put my trust, and to Him I turn in repentance (10)The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you mates from yourselves, and for the cattle (also) mates. By this means He creates you. There is nothing like Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer (11)To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. He enlarges provision for whom He wills, and straitens. Verily, He is the All-Knower of everything (12)

Allah is the Protector, Ruler and Creator

Here Allah denounces the idolators for taking other gods instead of Allah, and declares that He is the True God, and it is not right to worship anyone except Him Alone. He is the One Who is able to bring the dead back to life and He is Able to do all things. Then He says:

وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۚ 

(And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof is with Allah.) means, in whatever issue you differ. This is general in meaning and applies to all things.

 فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ

(the decision thereof is with Allah.) means, He is the Judge of that, according to His Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet ﷺ. This is like the Ayah:

فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ

((And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger)(4:59).

ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبِّي

(Such is Allah, my Lord) means, (He is) the Judge of all things.

عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ

(in Whom I put my trust, and to Him I turn in repentance.) means, 'I refer all matters to Him.'

فَاطِرُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ 

(The Creator of the heavens and the earth.) means, the Maker of them both and everything in between.

جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا

(He has made for you mates from yourselves,) means, of your own kind. As a blessing and a favor from Him, He has made your kind male and female.

 وَمِنَ الْأَنْعَامِ أَزْوَاجًا

(and for the cattle (also) mates.) means, and He has created for you eight pairs of cattle.

يَذْرَؤُكُمْ فِيهِ ۚ 

(By this means He creates you.) means, in this manner He creates you, male and female, generation after generation of men and cattle.

لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ ۖ 

(There is nothing like Him,) means, there is nothing like the Creator of these pairs, for He is the Unique, the Self-Sufficient Master, Who has no peer or equal.

وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ 

(He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.)

لَهُ مَقَالِيدُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ 

(To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth.) We have already discussed the interpretation of this phrase in Surat Az-Zumar (39:63), the conclusion of which is that He is the One Who is controlling and governing them.

 يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ 

(He expands provision for whom He wills, and straitens.) means, He gives plentiful provision to whomsoever He wills and He reduces it for whomsoever He wills, and He is perfectly Wise and Just.

إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ 

(Verily, He is the All-Knower of everything.)