What he said when they asked him to fix prices
Prices had risen and the people came with a reasonable request.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْمُسَعِّرُ الْقَابِضُ الْبَاسِطُ الرَّازِقُ
Inna-Llāha huwa-l-musaʿʿiru-l-qābiḍu-l-bāsiṭu-r-rāziq
Allah is the One who sets the price, who withholds, who gives abundantly, who provides.
Where this comes from
The cost of living rose in Madinah and they asked him to fix prices by decree. He refused, and gave the reason: he hoped to meet his Lord with no one holding a claim against him over blood or wealth. Four names of Allah in a row, two of them opposites, sitting inside a conversation about the market.
The full narration
It was nanated that Anas bin Malik said:"Prices rose during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and they said: 'O Messenger of Allah, prices have risen, so fix the prices for us.' He said: 'Indeed Allah is the Musa'ir, [1] the Qabid, (Restrainer) the Basit,[2] the Razzaq (Provider). And I am hopeful that I meet my Lord and none of you are seeking (recompense from) me for an injustice involving blood or wealth
Source
Sunan Ibn Mājah · 2200
- Al-Albani: Sahih
- Muhammad Fouad Abd al-Baqi: Sahih
- Shuaib Al Arnaut: Hasan Sahih
- Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Sahih