Surah Mulk Verse 21 — Ayat 21

Arabic Text

أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِی یَرۡزُقُكُمۡ إِنۡ أَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهُۥۚ بَل لَّجُّوا۟ فِی عُتُوࣲّ وَنُفُورٍ

Transliteration

Amman haazal lazee yarzuqukum in amsaka rizqah; bal lajjoo fee 'utuwwinw wa nufoor

English Translation

Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion.

English: Saheeh International (Tanzil.net)

Word-by-Word

• أَمَّنْ amman Who is
• هَـٰذَا hādhā this
• ٱلَّذِى alladhī the one
• يَرْزُقُكُمْ yarzuqukum to provide you
• إِنْ in if
• أَمْسَكَ amsaka He withheld
• رِزْقَهُۥ ۚ riz'qahu His provision
• بَل bal Nay
• لَّجُّوا۟ lajjū they persist
• فِى fī in
• عُتُوٍّۢ ʿutuwwin pride
• وَنُفُورٍ wanufūrin and aversion

Word breakdown from Quran.com API (Uthmani text, Saheeh International gloss per word).

Context in Al-Mulk (Ayah 21)

Another rhetorical contrast: who yarzuqukum if He amsaka rizqah— withholds provision? Bal lajjoo fi 'utuw wa nufoor: yet they persist in arrogance and aversion. Tafsir ties ingratitude to delusion about self-sufficiency.

Rizq includes rain, trade, and daily food—everything Meccan economy depended on. Persisting in 'utuw means continuing hostility to truth despite dependence on the Withholder's mercy.

Key Arabic Words

• لَّجُّوا۟ they persist This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
• وَنُفُورٍ and aversion This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
• أَمَّنْ Who is This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
• هَـٰذَا this This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.

Classical Tafsir (Verified Summary)

Reflection on Creation

This ayah invites quiet consideration of who provides if He withholds rizq; stubborn arrogance. Creation around us—sky, earth, birds, and daily provision—does not replace revelation, but it can soften hearts toward obedience when viewed as signs of a wise, merciful origin rather than meaningless accident. Study ayah 21 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion.”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of who provides if He withholds rizq; stubborn arrogance. Read ayah 20 and ayah 22 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans. Study ayah 21 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion.”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of who provides if He withholds rizq; stubborn arrogance. Read ayah 20 and ayah 22 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans. Study ayah 21 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion.”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of who provides if He withholds rizq; stubborn arrogance. Read ayah 20 and ayah 22 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans.

Family & Bedtime Practice

At dinner, list three rizq items on the plate and say thanks before eating—countering nufoor toward reminders. After reciting ayah 21, ask each child which word in the Arabic sounded clearest and look it up in the word table together. After reciting ayah 21, ask each child which word in the Arabic sounded clearest and look it up in the word table together.

For virtues and timing with sources, see benefits of Surah Mulk. Read the full chapter on the homepage reader.

Short Tafsir Note

Who provides for you if He withholds? They persist in arrogance and aversion — ingratitude despite constant provision.

Read full multi-scholar tafsir →

Key Lessons

• Every meal is from Allah
• Arrogance blinds to blessings
• Ask before provision is withdrawn

Listen to This Verse

Mishary Rashid Alafasy