Leave Me with the one I created alone,
to whom I gave wealth spread wide,
and sons present at his side,
and for whom I smoothed the way completely.
“Alone”: Ibn Kathîr explains that he came into the world with no wealth and no children. Then Allah gave him all this.
The commentators name him: al-Walîd ibn al-Mughîra, a rich and respected man of Makkah.
Mahhadtu, “I smoothed”: from the same root as mahd, the cradle. Soft ground, no stone in the way.
No obstacle left: money, sons, respect. The best a person can hope for in this world.
Then he hopes that I give him more.
Thumma, “then”: al-Qurtubî says it expresses astonishment. After all that, he still wants more.
Count the “I”: I created, I gave, I smoothed, “that I give more”. Allah speaks in the first person.
The man never says it came from Allah. The verses say it for him.
No! He has been stubborn toward Our signs.
Kallâ, “no”: the “more” he hoped for would not come.
Al-Qurtubî writes that he went on seeing his wealth and his sons decline until he died.
Sulaymân (peace be upon him) prayed: “My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom that will not belong to anyone after me.
You are the Bestower.”
He also asked for more. But he began with “forgive me”, and he named the Giver.
If you are grateful, I will surely give you more.
But if you deny, My punishment is severe.
The same root: azîda in 74:15, la-azîdannakum in 14:7. “More” is promised to the grateful.
And gratitude is not only words. Allah says to the family of Dâwûd: “Work, in gratitude.”
Someone can stay rich and feel poor inside: alone, suspicious, never at rest.
And whoever turns away from My remembrance, his will be a narrow life.
Wealth, sons at his side, every door open.
The Qur'an describes a man who had it all. Then comes one more line.
He had everything, except a heart that knew where it all came from.
Tonight, choose one thing you own and use part of it for someone else, for the sake of Allah.