سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 265
وَمَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ وَتَثْبِيتًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍۭ بِرَبْوَةٍ أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ فَـَٔاتَتْ أُكُلَهَا ضِعْفَيْنِ فَإِن لَّمْ يُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿265﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And the likeness of those who spend their wealth seeking Allâh’s Pleasure while they in their ownselves are sure and certain that Allâh will reward them (for their spending in His Cause), is the likeness 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 Allâh is All-Seer (knows well) of what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَثَلُ
wamathalu
And (the) example
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
(of) those who
يُنفِقُونَ
yunfiqūna
spend
أَمْوَٰلَهُمُ
amwālahumu
their wealth
ٱبْتِغَآءَ
ib'tighāa
seeking
مَرْضَاتِ
marḍāti
(the) pleasure
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَتَثْبِيتًۭا
watathbītan
and certainty
مِّنْ
min
from
أَنفُسِهِمْ
anfusihim
their (inner) souls
كَمَثَلِ
kamathali
(is) like
جَنَّةٍۭ
jannatin
a garden
بِرَبْوَةٍ
birabwatin
on a height
أَصَابَهَا
aṣābahā
fell on it
وَابِلٌۭ
wābilun
heavy rain
فَـَٔاتَتْ
faātat
so it yielded
أُكُلَهَا
ukulahā
its harvest
ضِعْفَيْنِ
ḍiʿ'fayni
double
فَإِن
fa-in
Then if
لَّمْ
lam
(does) not
يُصِبْهَا
yuṣib'hā
fall (on) it
وَابِلٌۭ
wābilun
heavy rain
فَطَلٌّۭ ۗ
faṭallun
then a drizzle
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
بَصِيرٌ
baṣīrun
(is) All-Seer
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 265){ ابْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللّٰهِ:} This is the example of sincere believers as opposed to hypocrites, that is, those who spend solely for the pleasure of Allah Almighty and spend with the assurance in their hearts that Allah Almighty will grant them abundant reward for it and their deed will not be wasted. Spending with a steadfast heart means that neither do they have any hesitation or worry while spending, nor any regret afterwards. The example of their spending is like that of a garden on an elevated and pleasant place; if a heavy rain falls on it, it yields double the fruit compared to other gardens, and even if there is no heavy rain, a light shower is sufficient. This is the state of a believer’s deed: it will not be wasted in any case, rather Allah Almighty will accept it and reward everyone according to their deed. (Ibn Kathir) Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “By heavy rain is meant spending a lot of wealth, and by {’’طَلٌّ‘‘} (some dew) is meant spending a little wealth. (Due to the tanween of {’’طَلٌّ‘‘}, it has been translated as ‘some dew’ to indicate a small amount.) So if the intention is correct, then spending more brings more reward, and even a little is beneficial, just as a garden on pure land benefits from as much rain as falls, and even dew is sufficient. And if the intention is not correct, then no matter how much is spent, it is wasted, because in giving more wealth, there is more show-off, just like a seed on a rock: the heavier the rain, the more damage it causes, as the soil is washed away.” (Mawdhih)
