And when the great encouragement to spend has been established, and it has been indicated that it is one of the most reliable means of connecting to all of Allah's commands, and it concluded that for the disbeliever is distance and expulsion from all good and evil, it was appropriate for the disbelievers to say: What is it that expands for us while it constricts for the believer with his connection and attachment? And why does his provision not expand for him so that he can fulfill what he has been commanded if that is indeed true? It was said: "Allah"—meaning the One who has all perfection—"expands provision" and it indicates the completeness of His power, glorified and exalted is He, by His saying—His power is manifest—"for whom He wills". So He may obey in His provision or disobey, "and He restricts" for whom He wills, making his provision according to his necessity, so he may be patient or despair for a decree that is beyond the thoughts. Then He makes what belongs to the disbeliever a cause for his failure, and the poverty of the believer a reason for his elevated status. So wealth is not something that is praised, nor is poverty something that is condemned; rather, one is praised or condemned by the effects.

And when abundance is a source of joy except for those whom Allah has purified, and they are fewer than few, it was said, criticizing those who are content with it: "And they rejoiced"—meaning He expanded for these the provision, so they became arrogant and disbelieved and rejoiced "in the worldly life"—meaning in its completeness; [and joy is a pleasure in the heart by attaining what is desired. And when the worldly life is fleeting in comparison to the abode that He has concluded for the pious, it was said additionally in encouragement and warning]: "And what is the worldly life in the Hereafter"—meaning in comparison to it—"except a fleeting enjoyment" [meaning] a trivial and transient one; Al-Rummani said: And enjoyment is what one benefits from in the present, and its origin is enjoyment, which is to take pleasure in the present matter.