36 Preface قُل إِنَّ رَبّي يَبسُطُ الرِّزقَ لِمَن يَشاءُ وَيَقدِرُ وَلٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَ النّاسِ لا يَعلَمونَYusuf AliSay: “Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the Provision1 to whom He pleases, but most men understand not.”Provision (or Sustenance): good things of all kinds in this life, material goods as well as power, opportunities, influence, mental gifts, etc. These do not necessarily all go to the good, nor is their denial to be interpreted to mean that it is a withdrawal of God’s favour. Very often the contrary is the case. Their distribution is in accordance with the Universal Plan and Purpose, which is All-Wise and All-Good, but ignorant people cannot understand this (Cf. n. 3791).