Overall meaning : Allah, Exalted be He, says: Never did We send a messenger to any town to warn its people of Our punishment but the affluent amongst them said, ‘We do not believe in the message with which you have been sent.’ They also said, ‘We have been given greater wealth and more children than you, and so Allah will not punish us!’ Say, Muhammad, ‘My Lord gives abundantly to whomever He wills and sparingly to whomever He pleases, but most people do not know this.’
It is not your wealth or your children that will bring you near to Us. Rather, those will be brought closer to Us are those who believe and do good deeds. These will have their rewards multiplied, and they will dwell in peace in the lofty mansions of Paradise. As for those who strive hard to discredit and confute Our revelations and turn people away from them, they will be consigned to punishment.
Say, Muhammad, ‘My Lord gives abundantly or sparingly to whomever He wills of His servants. Whatever you give in His cause He will recompense you for it. He is the best of providers.’