Surah Baqarah ayat 261 Tafsir Quran 2:261

﴿مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ﴾
[ البقرة: 261]

2:261 The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.

The likeness of the quality of the expenditure of those who expend their wealth in the way of God that is in obedience of Him is as the likeness of a grain of corn that sprouts seven ears in every ear a hundred grains likewise what they expend will be multiplied seven hundred times; so God multiplies even more than this for whom He will; God is Embracing in His bounty Knowing those who deserve such multiplications.

The example of those who spend of their wealth in divine service is similar to sown individual grains of corn growing seven auricles, each auricle carrying a hundred grains. And Allah thankfully reimburses multi-fold to whom He will, and Allah is Wasi‘un, His grace abounds in the universe, and He is Alimun

Rewards of Spending in Allah's Cause This is a parable that Allah made of the multiplication of rewards for those who spend in His cause, seeking His pleasure.
Allah multiplies the good deed ten to seven hundred times.
Allah said, مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَلَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ( The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah... ) Sa`id bin Jubayr commented, "Meaning spending in Allah's obedience." Makhul said that the Ayah means, "Spending on Jihad, on horse stalls, weapons and so forth." The parable in the Ayah is more impressive on the heart than merely mentioning the number seven hundred.
This Ayah indicates that Allah `grows' the good deeds for its doers, just as He grows the plant for whoever sows it in fertile land.
The Sunnah also mentions that the deeds are multiplied up to seven hundred folds.
For instance, Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Mas`ud said that a man once gave away a camel, with its bridle on, in the cause of Allah and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَتَأْتِيَنَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِسَبْعِمِائَةِ نَاقَةٍ مَخْطُومَة»
( On the Day of Resurrection, you will have seven hundred camels with their bridles. ) Muslim and An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith, and Muslim's narration reads, "A man brought a camel with its bridle on and said, `O Messenger of Allah! This is in the sake of Allah.' The Messenger ﷺ said,
«لَكَ بِهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ سَبْعُمِائَةِ نَاقَة»
( You will earn seven hundred camels as reward for it on the Day of Resurrection.
) Another Hadith: Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ يُضَاعَفُ، الْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشَرِ أَمْثَالِهَا، إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ، إِلى مَا شَاءَ اللهُ، يَقُولُ اللهُ: إِلَّا الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، يَدَعُ طَعَامَهُ وَشَهْوَتَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي، وَلِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ: فَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ فِطْرِهِ وَفَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ، وَلَخَلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ، الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ، الصَّومُ جُنَّة»
( Every good deed that the son of Adam performs will be multiplied ten folds, to seven hundred folds, to many other folds, to as much as Allah wills.
Allah said, "Except the fast, for it is for Me and I will reward for it.
One abandons his food and desire in My sake." The fasting person has two times of happiness: when he breaks his fast and when he meets his Lord.
Verily, the odor that comes from the mouth of whoever fasts is more pure to Allah than the scent of musk.
Fasting is a shield (against sinning ), fasting is a shield.) Muslim recorded this Hadith. Allah's statement, وَاللَّهُ يُضَـعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ( Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills ) is according to the person's sincerity in his deeds. وَاللَّهُ وَسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ( And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower ) meaning, His Favor is so wide that it encompasses much more than His creation, and He has full knowledge in whoever deserves it, or does not deserve it.
All the praise and thanks are due to Allah.

(2:261) The charity *298 of those who expend their wealth in the way of Allah *299 may be likened to a grain of corn, which produces seven ears and each ear yields a hundred grains. Likewise Allah develops manifold the charity of anyone He pleases, for He is All-Embracing, All-Wise. *300

The example of those who spend their meaning

*298).
Here the discourse turns to the subject touched upon in verses 244 ff.
above.
Believers were urged to sacrifice life and property for the sake of the great cause in which they believed.
It is difficult, however, to persuade those whose standard of judgement in respect of economic matters has not completely changed, to rise above either personal or narrow group interests and dispense their wealth wholeheartedly for the sake of a righteous cause.
People who have a materialistic outlook and whose life constitutes an uninterrupted pursuit of money, who adore every single penny they have, and who can never stop thinking about their balance sheets can never have the capacity to do anything really effective for the sake of higher ideals.
When such people apparently do spend money for the sake of higher moral ideals, it is merely an outward act which is performed after carefully calculating the material benefits which are likely to accrue either to them, to their group or to their nation.
With this outlook a person cannot go one step forward along the path of that religion which requires man to become indifferent to cosiderations of worldly profit and loss, and constantly to spend time, energy and money to make the Word of God reign supreme.

To follow such a course requires a moral outlook of an altogether different kind; it requires breadth of vision and magnanimity and, above all, an exclusive devotion to God.
At the same time it requires that man's collective life should be so re-moulded as to become conducive to the growth of the moral qualities mentioned above rather than to the growth of a materialistic outlook and behaviour.
Hence the three succeeding sections ( i.e.
verses 261-81 - Ed. ) are devoted to enunciating instructions designed to foster such an outlook.

*299).
A great many expenditures fall under the category of spending 'in the way of Allah', as long as this is done according to the laws of God and with the intention of seeking His good pleasure.
This includes spending one's wealth to fulfil one's legitimate needs, to provide for one's family, to look after the needs of relatives, to help the needy and to contribute to the general welfare and to spread the true religion and so on.

*300).
The greater the sincerity and the more intense the feeling with which one spends for the sake of God, the greater will be God's reward.
It is not difficult at all for God, Who blesses a grain so that out of it seven hundred grains grow, to allow one's charity to grow in like manner so that the unit of money one spends will return seven hundred fold.
This statement is followed by a mention of two of God's attributes.
First is His munificence.
His Hand is not clenched so as to restrain Him from recompensing man for his deeds to the fullest extent that he deserves.
Second, God is All-Knowing.
He is not unaware of what one spends and the spirit in which one spends.
So there is no reason to fear that one will not receive one's due reward.

 

Rewards of Spending in Allah's Cause This is a parable that Allah made of the multiplication of rewards for those who spend in His cause, seeking His pleasure.
Allah multiplies the good deed ten to seven hundred times.
Allah said, مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَلَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ( The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah... ) Sa`id bin Jubayr commented, "Meaning spending in Allah's obedience." Makhul said that the Ayah means, "Spending on Jihad, on horse stalls, weapons and so forth." The parable in the Ayah is more impressive on the heart than merely mentioning the number seven hundred.
This Ayah indicates that Allah `grows' the good deeds for its doers, just as He grows the plant for whoever sows it in fertile land.
The Sunnah also mentions that the deeds are multiplied up to seven hundred folds.
For instance, Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Mas`ud said that a man once gave away a camel, with its bridle on, in the cause of Allah and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَتَأْتِيَنَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِسَبْعِمِائَةِ نَاقَةٍ مَخْطُومَة» ( On the Day of Resurrection, you will have seven hundred camels with their bridles. ) Muslim and An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith, and Muslim's narration reads, "A man brought a camel with its bridle on and said, `O Messenger of Allah! This is in the sake of Allah.' The Messenger ﷺ said, «لَكَ بِهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ سَبْعُمِائَةِ نَاقَة» ( You will earn seven hundred camels as reward for it on the Day of Resurrection.
) Another Hadith: Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ يُضَاعَفُ، الْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشَرِ أَمْثَالِهَا، إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ، إِلى مَا شَاءَ اللهُ، يَقُولُ اللهُ: إِلَّا الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، يَدَعُ طَعَامَهُ وَشَهْوَتَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي، وَلِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ: فَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ فِطْرِهِ وَفَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ، وَلَخَلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ، الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ، الصَّومُ جُنَّة» ( Every good deed that the son of Adam performs will be multiplied ten folds, to seven hundred folds, to many other folds, to as much as Allah wills.
Allah said, "Except the fast, for it is for Me and I will reward for it.
One abandons his food and desire in My sake." The fasting person has two times of happiness: when he breaks his fast and when he meets his Lord.
Verily, the odor that comes from the mouth of whoever fasts is more pure to Allah than the scent of musk.
Fasting is a shield (against sinning ), fasting is a shield.) Muslim recorded this Hadith. Allah's statement, وَاللَّهُ يُضَـعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ( Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills ) is according to the person's sincerity in his deeds. وَاللَّهُ وَسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ( And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower ) meaning, His Favor is so wide that it encompasses much more than His creation, and He has full knowledge in whoever deserves it, or does not deserve it.
All the praise and thanks are due to Allah.

Then Allah mentioned the spending of the believers in the way of Allah, saying: ( The likeness of those who spend their wealth in Allah’s way ) He says: the likeness of the wealth of those who spend in His way ( is as the likeness of a grain which groweths seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains ) likewise, Allah multiplies what the believers spend in His way from one to seven hundred fold. ( Allah giveth increase manifold ) in surplus of this ( to whom He will ) to whomever deserves it; it is also said: to whomever Allah accepts his spending. ( Allah is All-Embracing ) by multiplying his reward manifold, ( All-Knowing ) of what the believers spend and of their intentions.

The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower.

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