Surah Al-Baqarah 2:261-266 - Quran Translation Commentary

261. The likeness of those⁴³³ who spend their wealth in the way of Allah⁴³⁴ is as the likeness of a grain which grows seven ears, in each ear a hundred grains.⁴³⁵Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. Allah is All- Embracing⁴³⁶ and All-Knowing.⁴³⁷

262. Those who spend their wealth for the cause of Allah and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their genersoity or with injury – for them their reward is with their Lord;⁴³⁸ and there shall no fear come upon them, nor shall they grieve.

263. A kind word with forgiveness is better than charity followed by injury.⁴³⁹Allah is free of all wants and Most – Forbearing.⁴⁴⁰

264. O you who believe! Waste not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury - like him who spends his wealth to be seen by men and believes not in Allah and the Last Day. His likeness is the likeness of a rock on which there is (some) dust of earth; on it heavy rain falls, which leaves it a bare stone.⁴⁴¹ They will be able to do nothing with anything they have earned. Allah does not show the right path to infidels.⁴⁴²

265. And the likeness of those who spend their wealth to seek Allah’s pleasure, with the strength of their souls, is as the likeness of a garden on a height ; heavy rain falls on it and it brings forth its fruit twofold; and if it receives not heavy rain, light shower suffices it. Allah sees well whatever you do.

266. Does any of you wish that he should have a garden with date-palms and vines and streams flowing underneath, and all kinds of fruits⁴⁴³ , while he is stricken with old age and his children are feeble – that it should be caught in a whirlwind with fire therein,⁴⁴⁴ and be burnt up? Thus does Allah make clear His signs to you so that you may think.⁴⁴⁵

Commentary

433. From here the trend of discussion reverts to the main topic.

434. “In the way of Allah” means the expenditure which is incurred to obtain the pleasure of Allah and is done according to the Guidance given by Allah.

435. This is an example of increase in the wealth which is spent in the way of Allah. As from one grain seven ears are grown and every ear has a hundred grains, similarly every good deed will be rewarded 700 times. Allah will not see only the quantity or the amount spent in His cause but the intention with which this expenditure was incurred and the circumstances in which it was incurred. The expenditure of the man who incurs it whole-heartedly, with deep, faithful conviction and in difficult circumstances will deserve more rewards from Allah than that of the man who spends money half-heartedly and in good circumstances.

436. That is: Allah has very vast resources and limitless treasures and is very liberal in giving rewards.

437. Allah is All-knowing so whatever good deed that you will perform will be known to Him and will be rewarded by Him.

438. When shallow people spend some money on some one they want that the unfortunate person should remain under their obligation forever and when they do not succeed in this, they start taunting that person to belittle him in the eyes of others. The Holy Quran says that Allah’s reward for spending money is not for such persons but for those whose character and conduct is free from such blemishes and who are sincere in spending money in the cause of Allah.

439. Rich people generally look down upon the poor and snub them with disdain. The Quran not only persuades the rich to help the poor monetarily but also tries to improve the mentality of the rich with a view to improving their character. It has therefore given special attention to this aspect and has directed that if the seeker of help approaches in an improper or unsuitable manner, then he should be forgiven.

440. Allah, besides having limitless treasures, is Most Forbearing. Inspite of their shortcomings and mistakes, Allah bestows His bounties on His slaves. Men, His slaves, should follow His example and try to develop in their own character this quality of forbearance and if the attitude or the manner of the poor and seeker of alms is improper, they should try to forgive and forget.

441. This is the example; of a man who may be doing cultivation on a hard and barren rock on which a layer of dust of earth has settled. When heavy rain falls on this rock, all the earth is washed away along with the harvest and only the barren hard rock remains. As all the efforts of this cultivator goes waste, similarly the expenditure on charity of those hypocrites goes waste who do so only for the sake of earning a good name or to show it to the world and are not sincere in seeking Allah’s pleasure. The charity which is not backed by sincerity and is not in the cause of Allah and which is not accompanied by real sympathy for mankind will not earn any reward in the Hereafter.

442. That is: Those who are not grateful to Allah after being favoured by Him with wealth and property in this world have not the good fortune of spending money for seeking Allah’s pleasure with sincerity and selflessness, and they are unable to do any virtuous deed for the sake of virtue.

443. For the Arabs the date-palm trees were very important. Its fruits were used as food and it was considered a great source of wealth. Arabs used to surround their gardens with the date-palm trees so that the gardens may be protected against heat and gales. In the middle they used to have vines to plant other fruits in some plots.

444. Fire here means the heat generated by the blowing hot winds and simoom, which scorch the gardens over which they blow.

445. The point which is desired to be brought home here is that whether you would like to meet with a serious and sudden accident at the time when you are stepping in the world of Hereafter, after collecting all the wealth and property and at that time you realize that whatever you had done has gone waste and that now there is no chance for earning anything for the next world nor is there any help available. If you do not want to meet with such a situation, then leave this world-loving mentality and spend your wealth in the way of Allah sincerely with the sole purpose of seeking His pleasure.