Are they the ones who divide the mercy of your Lord? This hamzah is for independent denial, expressing ignorance and astonishment at their objection and their control. They think they are the ones managing the matter of prophethood and choosing who is suitable for it and capable of it. They are the ones who take charge of dividing Allah's mercy, which only He manages with His overwhelming power and profound wisdom. Then He gave them an example, informing them that they are incapable of managing their own affairs and what is suitable for them in this world. Indeed, Allah, the Exalted and Mighty, is the one who divided their livelihood among them, determined it, and managed their affairs with the management of one who knows it. He did not make them equal, but rather distinguished them in the means of living. He differentiated between their ranks, making some of them strong and weak, rich and needy, masters and servants, so that some of them could help each other in their needs and employ one another in their professions, so they could coexist, support one another, reach their benefits, and obtain their provisions. If He had entrusted them to themselves and allowed them to manage their affairs, they would have been lost and perished. If they are in managing their worldly livelihood in this manner, what do you think of them in managing the affairs of religion, which is the greatest mercy of Allah and His utmost compassion? It is the path to acquiring the rewards of the Hereafter and the means to enter the abode of peace. Then He said, 'And the mercy of your Lord' means: 'And this mercy, which is the religion of Allah and what follows it from success in the Hereafter, is better than what these gather from the fleeting pleasures of this world.' If you say: Their livelihood is what they live on from benefits, some of them live on what is lawful, and some of them live on what is unlawful, then indeed Allah has divided the unlawful just as He divided the lawful. I say: Allah has divided for every servant his livelihood, which includes his food and drink and what is suitable for him from benefits, and He has permitted him to consume it. However, He has conditioned him and obligated him to follow the path that He has legislated in consuming it. If he follows it, he has consumed his portion of livelihood lawfully, and it is called the provision of Allah. If he does not follow it, he consumes it unlawfully, and he is not allowed to call it the provision of Allah. Allah is the one who divides livelihoods and benefits, but it is the servants who attribute the quality of unlawfulness to them by their improper consumption, deviating from what Allah has legislated to what He has not legislated.