Two Types of Rizq/Provision:

■ Two Types of Rizq/Provision:

There are two types of provision: external and internal. External provision relates to the physical body and comes from plants, which is the nourishment for the body. Internal provision includes the nourishment of the intellect, the spirit, and the soul.

Allah ﷻ states:

الا بذكر الله تطمئن القلوب

“Only through the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace.”

• Nourishment of the Heart:

This means that the hearts find comfort through the remembrance of Allah, and the sustenance of the heart is the remembrance of Allah ﷻ. This provision lasts forever, while external provision is limited and eventually perishes. Allah ﷻ has combined both names and mentioned the provisions of the skies and the earth, stating:

هل من خالق غير الله يرزقكم من السماء والارض

“Is there any creator besides Allah who provides for you from the skies and the earth?”

This means that Allah’s sky provision is for those who seek deeper understanding. Those who have advanced beyond the earthly provision are the people of closeness and chosen ones, receiving sustenance from places they cannot even imagine.

Allah ﷻ says:

فابتغوا عند الله الرزق

“Seek provision from Allah.”

This means to seek sustenance from Allah. For those whose connection is with His names and actions, their provision will come from the world of creation. For those connected with His attributes, their provision will be from the angelic realm. For those who connect with the essence of His names, their strength and sustenance will come directly from Allah ﷻ.

• Scattered Provision:

The Sufi masters say that Allah has created the provision for His creatures and commanded one of His angels to spread this provision throughout the world. Thus, some areas are filled with abundance, while others may have very little.