Tafsir of Al-Isra 17:100

Holding back is Part of Man's Nature Allah says to His Messenger:

قل لو أنتم تملكون خزآين رحمة ربي إذا ﻻمسكتم خشية اﻻنفاق

Say: "If you possessed the treasure of the mercy of my Lord, then you would surely hold back for fear of spending, "Tell them, O Muhammad, even if you had authority over the treasures of Allah, you would refrain from spending for fear of exhausting it.'' Ibn Abbas and Qatadah said, "This means for fear of poverty,'' lest it run out, despite the fact that it can never be exhausted or come to an end. This is because it is part of your nature. So Allah says:

وكان اﻻنسان قتورا

and man is ever miserly. Ibn Abbas and Qatadah said: "(This means) stingy and holding back.'' Allah says:

أم لهم نصيب من الملك فٳذا ﻻ يوتون الناس نقيرا

Or have they a share in the dominion Then in that case they would not give mankind even a Naqira. (4:53), meaning that even if they had a share in the authority of Allah, they would not have given anything to anyone, not even the amount of a Naqira (speck on the back of a date stone). Allah describes man as he really is, except for those whom Allah helps and guides. Miserliness, discontent and impatience are human characteristics, as Allah says:

إن اﻻنسن خلق هلوعا

إذا مسه الشر جزوعا

وإذا مسه الخير منوعا

إﻻ المصلين

Verily, man was created very impatient; irritable when evil touches him; and stingy when good touches him. Except those who are devoted to Salah (prayers). (70:19-22) And there are many other such references in the Qur'an. This is an indication of the generosity and kindness of Allah. In the Two Sahihs it says:

يد الله مﻼى ﻻ يغيضها نفقة سحاء الليل والنهار أرأيتم ما أنفق منذ خلق السموات واﻻرض فٳنه لم يغض ما في يمينه

Allah's Hand is full and never decreases because of His giving night and day. Do you not see how much He has given since He created the heavens and the earth, yet that which is in His right hand never decreases