The first of the above verses implies the Oneness of Cherisher, because there is no other one to sustain and nourish us with care except God:-
``Do they not see that Allah expands the sustenance for whom He will, and restricts it for whom He will.''
It is true that those who are hardy and active may have more wealth than those who are lazy and disinclined to action, however, the case is not always the same and it is not a general law. Many a time we see a one, doing his best, and yet he fails to be rich. On the contrary there are so many sourceless and clumsy fellows who have been very rich. By such exceptions God may want to show us that, He expands and He restricts. So in spite of all the natural rules and regulations that apply, man should not be lost in means, instruments, or even in cause and effects; forgetting his Lord Who has power over all things.
In the next verse (NO.38), though it seems that our prophet has been addressed, it can be taken as a general instruction for all; that, when your wealth has been increased and your sustenance is expanded, do not ignore your near relations, and let them have a share of your wealth as a charity. So is the case with the needy and the wayfarer, even if they are not among our relatives:-
``So give the nearer his due, and to the needy and wayfarer....''
In the next verse (NO.39) Man has been warned of grasping unlawful wealth, and particularly of usury:-
``And what you pay in usury to increase the people's wealth will not increase with Allah....''
The Arabic, ``RIBÄ'' translated to usury, literally denotes to increase in wealth, but it connotes all kinds of unlawful grasping of wealth such as usury, bribery, profiteering, and fraudulent trading. God will not prosper those who increase their wealth through unlawful ways, and sooner or later they will have to taste the bitter outcome of their evil deeds and unjust collectionsِa collection that they will have to leave it behind and go to answer for it in God's court of justice and judgement.
On the other hand, those who avoid evil and Satanic Temptation in gathering wealth, and have set a right in their wealth for the poor and needy, will have God's blessings and what they spend for the sake of God, will have it back multiplied to many times more.
In the last of the above verses (NO.40) once again the argument goes back to Man's Origin and Destination, and God is qualified with four qualifications that; He creates, He sustains, He makes to die, and He restores to life, and no one else can ever do such things. Is there any one of your associates who can do any of these things for you? Glory to Him.
What does an idolater owe to the partners that he sets up to worship apart from God? Have they created him? Do they sustain or protect him? Can they give him life or make him to die?
It is indeed a folly of man to grasp something that can neither profit nor harm him, taking such a neutral entity for god!
