قَدَرٌ
measure, portion, capacity
قَدَرٌ : measure, portion, capacity
#root verb: قَدَرَ: to be able, to have power, to measure
#of times in Qur’an: 11
Sūra al-Shūra 42:27
Our Qur’anic Word today sounds very much like قَدْرٌ as in Laylat al-Qadr, but is slightly different - the word قَدَرٌ .
Occurring around 11 times in the Qur’an, it’s a very important word that means ‘measure, portion or capacity’. The root word قَدَرَ is so vast in its meaning and encompasses things like Allah’s power, man’s capacity and ability to do things, Allah’s apportioning sustenance and constricting it.
In this juz', it features in Sūra al-Sḥura, ayah 27, and is actually an extension of yesterday’s ayah about how Allah spreads His sustenance - يَبْسُطُ, and how He constricts it - يَقْدِرُ and actually explains further how Allah does these:
وَلَوْ بَسَطَ اللَّـهُ الرِّزْقَ لِعِبَادِهِ لَبَغَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَـٰكِن يُنَزِّلُ بِقَدَرٍ مَّا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِعِبَادِهِ خَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ
Were Allah to expand the provision for [all] His servants, they would surely create havoc on the earth. But He sends down in a [precise] measure whatever He wishes. Indeed, He is all-aware, all-seeing about His servants.
That precise measure is Allah’s قَدَرٌ : a measure that’s infused with His power to do as He will, His knowledge of what’s good for us, and His careful consideration of each individual’s needs and wants.