The Holy Quran, like a clear and boundless spring, presents divine knowledge to humanity through words and concepts. Among these concepts, Rizq (sustenance), Nafaqah (provision/maintenance), and Munafiq (hypocrite) hold a special place, each opening a window towards understanding divine wisdom and the order of creation. This writing, through contemplation on divine verses and elucidation of the profound meanings of these three concepts, endeavoursusing clear and dignified languageto reveal the epistemic layers embedded within them for seekers of knowledge and understanding. By employing relevant verses and in-depth analyses, this work attempts to clarify the connection between these concepts and the system of existence and the spiritual life of humanity.
Rizq, like a rivulet flowing from the source of divine wisdom, is described in the Holy Quran in various forms. This concept not only refers to the material needs of humans but also encompasses all blessings that flow from the Lord to creation. Rizqs are divided into celestial (heavenly) and terrestrial (earthly), ayyib (pure and pleasant), asan (good), acquisitive (resulting from effort), non-acquisitive (without effort), quantitative (prepared), and expedited (early) types. This diversity, like various colours in the tableau of creation, reflects the endless wisdom of God in distributing blessings according to the needs and merits of His servants.
يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ (Ghafir: 64)
He provides you with sustenance from the heavens and the earth.
مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُ فِيهَا مَا نَشَاءُ (Al-Isra: 18)
Whoever desires the immediate [benefit], We hasten for him therein whatever We will.
Celestial and terrestrial Rizqs refer to the divine and earthly origins of blessings, while quantitative and expedited Rizqs indicate the manner and timing of their bestowal. This classification, like a precise map of the divine sustenance system, demonstrates how the Lord, with His infinite wisdom, provides for the various needs of creation. For example, quantitative Rizq is like a prepared vessel for servants containing good or evil, and expedited Rizq is like an early-ripening fruit, quickly placed at a person's disposal.
Recognition of true Rizq is like a key that opens the lock of knowledge about the Lord. Without knowing the Lord, a person cannot properly identify his Rizqbe it ayyib, asan, or celestial. The Holy Quran invites humans to reflect on their food and drink in order to avoid consuming undesirable Rizqs that harm body and soul. This contemplation is like a lamp illuminating the path of spiritual life.
فَلْيَنْظُرِ الْإِنْسَانُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِ (Abasa: 24)
Then let mankind look to his food.
This verse is a divine call for humans to be aware of the quality and origin of their Rizq. Consuming inappropriate Rizq, like poisoned water, can lead to physical and psychological ailments, while ayyib Rizq, like an elixir of life, aids spiritual growth. Such knowledge prevents thoughtless consumption and guides individuals towards selecting blessings harmonious with their divine nature.
Consuming undesirable Rizq, like a poisonous seed in the soil of human existence, results in reduced lifespan, physical and psychological diseases, and even estrangement from spirituality. The Holy Quran mentions Rizq over fifty times, each with a different expression, emphasising the importance of choosing appropriate Rizq. This emphasis is like a recurring melody in the divine symphony, inviting humans to live in harmony with their environment and nature.
هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينِ (Adh-Dhariyat: 58)
He is the Ever-Providing, the Firm Possessor of strength.
This verse crowns the concept of Rizq by introducing God as the resolute Provider who, with strength and wisdom, delivers diverse Rizqs to creation. Consuming blessings incompatible with ones ecosystemsuch as rice in unsuitable regionsleads to shortened life and physical and psychological disorders. This serves as a warning, inviting humans to harmonise with the system of creation.
Rizq in the Holy Quran, like a multi-branched stream, manifests in celestial, terrestrial, ayyib, asan, quantitative, and expedited forms. Knowledge of these Rizqs is impossible without recognition of the Lord. By contemplating their food and drink, humans can distinguish ayyib Rizq from undesirable types and thus experience a spiritually and physically healthy life. This part, with emphasis on divine wisdom in the distribution of Rizq, calls humans to make conscious choices aligned with their innate nature and environment.
Nafaqah, in the Holy Quran, refers to a limited and daily provision granted to meet the essential needs of humans, such as food and livelihood. Unlike isn (benevolence), which suggests expansiveness and boundlessness, Nafaqah is accompanied by limitation and specificity. This concept is regarded as a daily ration to satisfy fundamental human needs and is distinguished from the broader and more general Rizq.
وَيُنْفِقُ كَيْفَ يَشَاءُ (Al-Maidah: 64)
And He spends (or grants) as He wills.
وَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ وَعَلَى الْمُوسِعِ قَدَرُهُ وَعَلَى الْمُقْتِرِ قَدَرُهُ مَتَاعًا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ (Al-Baqarah: 236)
And provide for them; and upon the one who is rich [is] a reasonable provision, and upon the one who is poor [is] a reasonable provisionaccording to what is acceptable.
Due to its limitation, Nafaqah is distinct from the extensive Rizqs embedded within the concept of divine providence. Spending (or granting) in the Quran can include good (such as charity) or evil (such as rebellion and enmity), but this spending never signifies removal from divine ownership; rather, it is a wise distribution within the framework of divine will.
Spending (Infaq), like two sides of a coin, may encompass good or evil. By His wisdom, God sometimes bestows good and sometimes evil; however, this evil is not a defect in the divine essence but a just distribution merit of servants. This concept reflects the divine wisdom and justice in
