Tafsir of Al-Isra 17:30

"Indeed, your Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]." This is a causal explanation for His saying, "And if you turn away from them," and so forth. It is as if it were said: If you turn away from them due to a lack of provision, speak to them a gentle word and do not be concerned by that, for it is not due to any insignificance of yours in the sight of the Exalted; rather, it is because the keys of provision are in His hand, Glorified be He. He expands it for some and restricts it for others according to His will, which is subject to wisdom. Therefore, the constraint in circumstances that may occur to you at times, which necessitates your turning away, is only for your own benefit.

Thus, His saying, "And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck," and so forth, is parenthetical, confirming the meaning of what His wisdom—Mighty and Majestic is He—requires of restriction and expansion.

His saying, "Indeed, He is, of His servants, Acquainted and Seeing," means that He has always been and will always be, regarding all His servants, "Acquainted"—knowing their secrets—and "Seeing"—knowing their condition—so He knows of their interests what is hidden from them. This is a causal explanation for what preceded it.

It has also been suggested that this is a causal explanation for the command to practice moderation, which is derived from the two prohibitions. This may be interpreted in one of two ways: either that expansion and restriction are matters exclusive to Allah, while you should practice moderation and leave what is exclusive to Him, Glorified be He; or that when you verify the status of the Exalted—that He expands and restricts—and you look deeply into that, you will find Him to be moderate; therefore, you should also be moderate and follow His practice. Some have considered it a causal explanation for all that has preceded, but this remains obscure, as is evident.

It has also been suggested that it is a causal explanation for the final prohibition, meaning: He, Exalted is He, expands and restricts according to His will, so do not be excessive in spending upon one whose provision has been restricted. However, this interpretation is weak.