Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 265
Quran 2:265 · The Cow · Madani · Para 3 · Page 45
وَمَثَلُ الَّذِیْنَ یُنْفِقُوْنَ اَمْوَالَهُمُ ابْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللّٰهِ وَتَثْبِیْتًا مِّنْ اَنْفُسِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍ بِرَبْوَةٍ اَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ فَاٰتَتْ اُكُلَهَا ضِعْفَیْنِ ۚ فَاِنْ لَّمْ یُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِیْرٌ ۟
Transliteration
Wamathalu allatheena yunfiqoona amwalahumuibtighaa mardati Allahi watathbeetan minanfusihim kamathali jannatin birabwatin asabaha wabilunfaatat okulaha diAAfayni fa-in lam yusibhawabilun fatallun wallahu bimataAAmaloona baseer
Saheeh International
And the example of those who spend their wealth seeking means to the approval of Allāh and assuring [reward for] themselves is like a garden on high ground which is hit by a downpour - so it yields its fruits in double. And [even] if it is not hit by a downpour, then a drizzle [is sufficient]. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.
Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir
The example of believers who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s pleasure, with firm conviction in their hearts of Allah’s promise, is like that of a garden on high fertile ground on which heavy rain falls and causes it to produce double its crop. In addition, if it does not receive heavy rain then the light rain that falls on it is sufficient because the land is fertile. In the same way, the little that is spent by the sincere ones is accepted by Allah and its reward is multiplied. Allah sees what you do: He knows who is sincere and who is not, and will reward each one accordingly.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)
And the parable of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah's pleasure while they in their own selves are sure and certain that Allah will reward them (for their spending in His cause), is that of a garden on a height; heavy rain falls on it and it doubles its yield of harvest. And if it does not receive heavy rain, light rain suffices it. And Allah is All-Seer (knows well) of what you do.) This is the example of the believers who give away charity seeking only Allah's pleasur (265)
وَتَثْبِيتًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ
(while they in their own selves are sure and certain) meaning, they are certain that Allah shall reward them for these righteous acts with the best rewards. Similarly, in a Hadith collected by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا
(Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and expectation...) meaning, believing that Allah commanded the fast, all the while awaiting His reward for fasting it.
Allah's statement,
كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍ بِرَبْوَةٍ
(is that of a garden on a Rabwah) means, the example of a garden on 'a height above the ground', as the majority of scholars have stated. Ibn 'Abbas and Ad-Dahhak added that it also has flowing rivers.
Allah's statement,
أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ
(Wabil falls on it) means, heavy rain as we stated, So it produces its,
أُكُلَهَا
(yield of harvest) meaning, fruits or produce,
ضِعْفَيْنِ
(doubles), as compared to other gardens.
فَإِن لَّمْ يُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّ
(And if it does not receive Wabil, a Tall suffices it.)
Ad-Dahhak said that the 'Tall' is light rain. The Ayah indicates that the garden on the Rabwah is always fertile, for if heavy rain does not fall on it, light rain will suffice for it. Such is the case regarding the believer's good deeds, for they never become barren. Rather, Allah accepts the believer's righteous deeds and increases them, each according to his deeds. This is why Allah said next,
وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
(And Allah is All-Seer of what you do) meaning, none of His servants' deeds ever escapes His perfect watch.