reading time ~13 mins

1. Rizq
   1. Rizq as Strength & Support
2. Rizq in Quran
3. Rizq in Sunnah
   1. Rizq is already decreed & cannot be prevented
   2. The Believer is pleased with his Rizq
   3. Rizq is never enough for the greedy
   4. Rizq can be increased
4. Duas for Rizq
5. Adam عليه السلام on Rizq: Why are people not given equal provision?

Rizq

The word “rizq” (رِزْق) in Arabic comes from the root ر-ز-ق (R-Z-Q). This triliteral root generally relates to provision, sustenance, or livelihood

Rizq refers to anything that is granted or provided by Allah to a person to sustain their life. It includes, but is not limited to:

• Wealth or money
• Food and drink
• Physical and Mental Health
• Time
• Knowledge
• Opportunities
• Even relationships or peace of mind

Rizq as Strength & Support

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ

Indeed, Allah ˹alone˺ is the Supreme Provider—Lord of all Power, Ever Mighty.

Quran 51:58

• Ar-Razzaq (الرَّزَّاق): the one who provides continuously and abundantly
• Dhul-Quwwah (ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ): the possessor of strength
• Al-Matin (ٱلْمَتِينُ): the firm, solid, unshakable

Strength and support are deeply embedded in the concept of Rizq, both in meaning and in spiritual interpretation

Rizq comes from Allah, the ultimate Provider. It is not merely about receiving something, but about receiving it from a source of absolute power and unwavering stability. Strength itself is a form of rizq — whether it is your physical ability, energy, resilience, or talent, all are provisions granted by Allah. Rizq also includes emotional, familial, and social support, as every form of sustenance and empowerment ultimately comes from Him.

Rizq in Quran

There is no moving creature on earth whose provision is not guaranteed by Allah. And He knows where it lives and where it is laid to rest. All is ˹written˺ in a perfect Record. 

Quran 11:6

---

And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for them, and provide for them from sources they could never imagine. And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He ˹alone˺ is sufficient for them. Certainly Allah achieves His Will. Allah has already set a destiny for everything. 

Quran 65:2-3

---

And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.

Quran 71:10-12

---

Rizq in Sunnah

Rizq is already decreed & cannot be prevented

1. Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah has appointed an angel over every womb. He says: O Lord, a drop! O Lord, a clot! O Lord, a bit of flesh! Then if Allah decrees the completion of its creation, he says: O Lord, male or female? O Lord, damned or saved? What is the provision? What is the lifespan? All of that is written in the womb of his mother.” Source: Ṣaḥīḥ (Bukhari 6595, Muslim 2646 Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
2. Abu Humayd al-Sa’idi reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Be moderate in seeking from the world, for everyone will be facilitated towards what has been decreed for him in it.” (al-Sunan al-Kubrá lil-Bayhaqī 10501 Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani) (ibn Majah 2142) (ibn Majah 2144 Sahih) 
3. Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Were the son of Adam to flee from his provision as he flees from death, his provision would surely reach him just as death will reach him.” (Ḥilyat al-Awliyā’ 7/90 Hasan (fair) according to Al-Albani)
4. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Verily, Allah has distributed your characters among you just as He has distributed your provision. Allah gives the world to those He loves and to those He does not love, but He only gives faith to those He loves. Whoever is too stingy with wealth to spend it, too fearful of the enemy to fight them, or too worried to pray at night that he might suffer, then let him increase his declarations of the glory of Allah, that there is no God but Allah, and Allah is the greatest.” (Muʻjam Asāmī 342 Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani) (Adab al Mufrad Book 14, Hadith 275)

The Believer is pleased with his Rizq

5. Abu al-‘Ala’ reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Verily, Allah will put His servant to trial in what He gives him. Whoever is pleased with what Allah has apportioned for him, then Allah will bless him in it and expand it. Whoever is not pleased, he will never be blessed in it.” (Musnad Aḥmad 20279 Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Arna’ut)
6. Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The best remembrance is in private and the best provision is sufficient.” (Musnad Aḥmad 1477 Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Zurqani)
7. Khabbab ibn al-Aratt reported: The Prophet ﷺ said, “Verily, it is enough for you to have in the world the likes of a traveler’s provision.” (Shu’ab al-Imān lil-Bayhaqī 9916 Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani)
8. Ma’qil ibn Yasar reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Your Lord Almighty said: Son of Adam, be free for My worship. I will fill your heart with richness and fill your hands with provision. Son of Adam, do not distance yourself from Me, or else I will fill your heart with poverty and fill your hands with worthless distractions.” (al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr 500 Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani)

Rizq is never enough for the greedy

9. Narrated Ibn `Abbas: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, “If the son of Adam (the human being) had two valleys of money, he would wish for a third, for nothing can fill the belly of Adam’s son except dust, and Allah forgives him who repents to Him.” (Bukhari 6436) 
10. Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “If Adam’s son had a valley full of gold, he would like to have two valleys, for nothing fills his mouth except dust. And Allah forgives him who repents to Him.” (Bukhari 6439)
11. Abu Waqid reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Allah said: Verily, We have sent down wealth for the performance of prayer and offering charity. If the son of Adam owned a valley, he would like to have a second. If he had two valleys, he would like to add a third. Nothing satisfies the belly of the son of Adam but the dust of the grave, yet Allah will relent to whoever repents.” (Shu’ab al-Imān lil-Bayhaqī 9800 Grade: (authentic) according to Al-Albani)

Rizq can be increased

12. ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Surely, whoever wants to extend his lifespan and expand his provision, let him uphold his family ties.” (Shu’ab al-Imān 7587 Sahih li ghayrihi (authentic due to external evidence) according to Al-Albani) (Musnad Ahmad 1213)

Duas for Rizq

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَكَفَانَا وَآوَانَا فَكَمْ مِمَّنْ لَا كَافِيَ لَهُ وَلَا مُؤْوِيَ

Muslim 2715

13. Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say when he retired to his bed, “All praise is due to Allah who has fed us, given us drink, sufficed us, and sheltered us. How many are those who do not have enough and have no shelter?” (Muslim 2715 Muslim 2715 (abuaminaelias) Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim)

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ، وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهْوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، اللَّهُمَّ لاَ مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَلاَ مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ، وَلاَ يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ

Bukhari 844 Muslim 593a Mishkat al-Masabih 962 an Nasai 1342 Bulugh al-Maram 2/214 Hisn al-Muslim 67

14. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say after every compulsory prayer, “La ilaha illa l-lahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu l-mulku wa lahu l-hamdu, wa huwa `ala kulli shay’in qadir. Allahumma la mani`a lima a`taita, wa la mu`tiya lima mana`ta, wa la yanfa`u dhal-jaddi minka l-jadd. [There is no Deity but Allah, Alone, no Partner to Him. His is the Kingdom and all praise, and Omnipotent is he. O Allah! Nobody can hold back what you gave, nobody can give what You held back, and no struggler’s effort can benefit against You].” (Bukhari 844) (Muslim 593a) (Mishkat al-Masabih 962) (an Nasai 1342) (Bulugh al-Maram 2/214) (Hisn al-Muslim 67) 

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ اللَّهُمَّ لاَ مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَلاَ مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ وَلاَ يَنْفَعُ ذَا الجَدِّ مِنْكَ الجَدُّ 

Bukhari 6615

15. Al-Mughirah reported: I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying after the prayer, “There is no God but Allah alone without any partners. O Allah, none can withhold what You give and none can give what You withhold. The might of the mighty is no benefit against You.” (Bukhari 6615)

اللَّهُمَّ قَنِّعْنِي بِمَا رَزَقْتَنِي وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَاخْلُفْ عَلَيَّ كُلَّ غَائِبَةٍ لِي بِخَيْرٍ

al-Daʻwāt al-Kabīr 242 Hasan (fair) according to Ibn Hajar

16. Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet ﷺ used to supplicate, “O Allah, make me content with what You have provided for me, bless me in it, and appoint good for me in everything I do not have.” (al-Daʻwāt al-Kabīr 242 Hasan (fair) according to Ibn Hajar)

Adam عليه السلام on Rizq: Why are people not given equal provision?

Ubayy ibn Ka’b reported: In regards to the saying of Allah Almighty, “As your Lord took from the children of Adam, from their loins, their progeny and He made them testify against themselves: Am I not your Lord?” (7:172). Adam, upon him be peace, looked at his progeny and he saw the rich and the poor, those with a beautiful appearance and otherwise. Adam said, “O Lord, why did You not provide the same to all Your servants?” Allah said, “Verily, I love to be thanked.” (Musnad Aḥmad 21232 Hasan (fair) according to Al-Albani)

Ibn al-Qayyim said, “If all of them were given equal amounts of blessings and well-being, the blessed one would not recognize its extent and not offer gratitude, as he would not see anyone but in the same situation as him. Among the strongest means of gratitude and greatest of them to extract it from the servant is that he sees others in a contrary situation to his.” (Miftāḥ Dār al-Saʻādah 1/7)