Surah Hud Tafseer

Allah is Responsible for the Provisions of All Creatures

Allah says;

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الَارْضِ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللّهِ رِزْقُهَا

وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

And no moving creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit. All is in a Clear Book.

Allah, the Exalted, informs that He is responsible for the provisions of all the creatures that dwell in the earth, whether they are small, large, sea-dwelling or land-dwelling. He knows their place of dwelling and their place of deposit.

This means that He knows where their journeying will end in the earth and where they will seek shelter when they wish to nest.

This place of nesting is also considered their place of deposit.

Ali bin Abi Talhah and others reported from Ibn Abbas that he said concerning the statement,

رِزْقُهَا

وَيَعْلَمُ

(And He knows its dwelling place),

it means where it resides.

In reference to the statement,

مُسْتَقَرَّهَا

(and its deposit), he (Ibn Abbas) said;

it means where it will die.

كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

All is in a Clear Book.

Allah informs us that all of this is written in a Book with Allah that explains it in detail.

This is similar to Allah's statement,

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَلَا طَايِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلاَّ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَـلُكُمْ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى الكِتَـبِ مِن شَىْءٍ ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ

There is not a moving creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered. (6:38)

and,

وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَأ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلاَّ يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِى ظُلُمَـتِ الاٌّرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلاَّ فِى كِتَـبٍ مُّبِينٍ

And with Him are the keys of the Ghayb (all that is hidden and unseen), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record. (6:59