Surah Al Mulk Tafseer

هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الاَْرْضَ ذَلُولاً فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا

He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you; so walk in the paths thereof,

meaning, travel wherever you wish throughout its regions and frequent its countryside's and all the areas of its domain in your various journeys to seek earnings and trade. And know that your efforts will not benefit you anything unless Allah makes matters easy for you.

Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, As-Suddi and Qatadah all said that

مَنَاكِبِهَاManakibiha (its paths) means its outermost borders, its roads and its regions.

Allah continues to say,

وَكُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِهِ

and eat of His provision.

Thus, striving by using the means (to attain something) does not negate the necessity of depending upon Allah (At-Tawakkul).

This is similar to what Imam Ahmad recorded from `Umar bin Al-Khattab, that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

لَوْأَنَّكُمْ تَتَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ لَرَزَقَكُمْ كَمَا يَرْزُقُ الطَّيْرَ تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا

If you would trust in Allah as He truly should be trusted in, He would surely provide for you as He provides for the birds. They set out in the morning with empty stomachs and return in the evening with full stomachs.

At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah all recorded this Hadith. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih."

So this confirms that the bird searches morning and evening for its sustenance while depending upon Allah. For He is the Subduer, the Controller and the One Who causes everything.

وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

And to Him will be the resurrection.

meaning, the place of return on the Day of Judgement.

Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, As-Suddi and Qatadah all said that

مَنَاكِبِهَاManakibiha (its paths) means its outermost borders, its roads and its regions