Tafheem ul Quran

Surah 21 Al-Anbya, Ayat 44-44

بَلۡ مَتَّـعۡنَا هٰٓؤُلَاۤءِ وَ اٰبَآءَهُمۡ حَتّٰى طَالَ عَلَيۡهِمُ الۡعُمُرُ ​ؕ اَفَلَا يَرَوۡنَ اَنَّا نَاۡتِى الۡاَرۡضَ نَـنۡقُصُهَا مِنۡ اَطۡرَافِهَا ؕ​ اَفَهُمُ الۡغٰلِبُوۡنَ‏ ﴿21:44﴾

(21:44) Nay, We generously provided them and their fathers, and they enjoyed Our provision for long.44 Do they not see that We are now advancing into their territory, diminishing it from different sides?45 Is it they, then, who will triumph?"46


Notes

44. In other words it means: These people have been deluded by Our favor and Our provisions. They think they are enjoying prosperity and good life as their personal right and there is none to take it away from them. They have forgotten that there is God above them Who is able to make or mar their fortune.

45. In this connection, see (Surah Ar-Raad, Ayat 41 and E.N. 60) thereof. Here it bears an additional meaning also: Do they not see that an All-Powerful Being is showing His signs every now and then everywhere on the earth in the form of famines, epidemics, floods, earthquakes and other calamities. Millions of people are killed, habitations and harvests are destroyed and other damages are caused, which frustrate all human designs?

46. It means: When they know that all the resources and provisions of life are in Our hands and that We can increase or decrease them as We will, do they have the power and strength to defend themselves against Our punishment? Can they not see from these signs that their power, prosperity and luxury are not everlasting and that there is an All-Powerful Allah to seize and punish them.