Why do people die of hunger when God promised sustenance to everyone?

It is a common misconception that God has promised sustenance to everyone irrespective of their efforts or the various factors that influence the distribution of this sustenance. The Qur’an does not make such a claim. When it states that everyone’s sustenance (rizq) is provided by God (e.g., Qur’an 11:6), it implies that God has placed the means of sustenance on this earth for all. However, this sustenance is accessible to individuals according to a set law, involving putting in the required efforts to find sustenance and some other factors purely in God’s control. For instance, if a person has abundant food in his home but refuses to get out of bed to obtain it, it will not magically appear before him. Similarly, if an unjust system hinders the equitable distribution of food, people will suffer as a consequence.

The issue of hunger is not an isolated phenomenon. It is interconnected with other global problems such as poverty, injustice, and exploitation and is related to the broader question of human freedom and authority. Often, it is due to human errors or negligence that others are deprived of sustenance or that individuals fail to exert the necessary effort. This situation does not contradict the principle that the Almighty has generously provided the means of sustenance for everyone on this earth.