سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 261
مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍ مِّا۟ئَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَـٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿261﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allâh, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allâh gives manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allâh is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مَّثَلُ
mathalu
Example
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
(of) those who
يُنفِقُونَ
yunfiqūna
spend
أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ
amwālahum
their wealth
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
كَمَثَلِ
kamathali
(is) like
حَبَّةٍ
ḥabbatin
a grain
أَنۢبَتَتْ
anbatat
which grows
سَبْعَ
sabʿa
seven
سَنَابِلَ
sanābila
ears
فِى
fī
in
كُلِّ
kulli
each
سُنۢبُلَةٍۢ
sunbulatin
ear
مِّا۟ئَةُ
mi-atu
hundred
حَبَّةٍۢ ۗ
ḥabbatin
grain(s)
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
يُضَـٰعِفُ
yuḍāʿifu
gives manifold
لِمَن
liman
to whom
يَشَآءُ ۗ
yashāu
He wills
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
وَٰسِعٌ
wāsiʿun
(is) All-Encompassing
عَلِيمٌ
ʿalīmun
All-Knowing
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
261. The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a grain of corn that grows seven ears, and in every ear there are a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies the reward even more for whom He wills [376], and Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing [377].
[376]
How Does the Reward of Charity Increase or Decrease?
In verse number 254 of this very surah, the believers were encouraged to spend in the way of Allah, as this is what will be of benefit on the Day of Resurrection. After mentioning some incidents regarding the recognition of Allah and His management of affairs, the discourse now returns to the same subject, explaining how, on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will multiply these charities hundreds of times and grant their reward. Allah clarifies this increase with an example that everyone can see with their own eyes: if Allah wills, more than seven ears can grow, and in one ear, there can be more than a hundred grains. In this way, the reward for charity can increase more than seven hundred times. To attain such a reward, it is necessary to observe a few things. For example:
Charity from Haram Wealth is Not Accepted:
1. The healthier and stronger the seed or grain, the better the crop will be. In spending in the way of Allah, the seed or grain is a person’s intention; the more sincerely it is for the pleasure of Allah, the more fruitful your charity will be. Also, this charity should be from lawful wealth, because charity from unlawful wealth is not accepted at all.
2. After sowing the seed, to obtain the yield, it is also necessary to irrigate it and protect it from pests; otherwise, the crop will either be ruined or will yield very little. Similarly, after giving charity, it should also be protected and not wasted by reminding others of your favor or by exacting service in return, as will be mentioned in the next verse.
3. Sometimes, even when the crop is ready, some earthly or heavenly calamity befalls it and completely destroys it. In a person’s deeds, these calamities are various forms of shirk. If you gave charity with a completely correct intention, then continued to irrigate and protect it, but at some point committed an act of shirk, your deeds will be ruined. Similarly, if the act is against the Sunnah (i.e., an innovation), then instead of reward, it will be deserving of punishment.
The Reward of Charity:
Yes, whoever observes these matters will indeed receive the reward mentioned in this verse, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that Allah only accepts pure wealth, so whoever gives charity from his pure wealth, even if it is equal to a date, Allah takes it in His hand and nurtures it as you nurture your calf, until that date becomes as big as a mountain. [بخاري، كتاب الزكاة، باب لا يقبل اللّٰه صدقة من غلول۔ اور باب الصدقة من كسب طيب لقوله تعالىٰ يمحق الله الربٰو اور ير بي الصدقات ....الاية- مسلم، كتاب الزكوٰة، باب الحث على الصدقة ولو بشق تمرة او كلمة طيبة۔۔۔ الخ]
[377] That is, He can give as much reward as He wishes, and He also knows with how much sincerity you performed this deed.
[376]
How Does the Reward of Charity Increase or Decrease?
In verse number 254 of this very surah, the believers were encouraged to spend in the way of Allah, as this is what will be of benefit on the Day of Resurrection. After mentioning some incidents regarding the recognition of Allah and His management of affairs, the discourse now returns to the same subject, explaining how, on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will multiply these charities hundreds of times and grant their reward. Allah clarifies this increase with an example that everyone can see with their own eyes: if Allah wills, more than seven ears can grow, and in one ear, there can be more than a hundred grains. In this way, the reward for charity can increase more than seven hundred times. To attain such a reward, it is necessary to observe a few things. For example:
Charity from Haram Wealth is Not Accepted:
1. The healthier and stronger the seed or grain, the better the crop will be. In spending in the way of Allah, the seed or grain is a person’s intention; the more sincerely it is for the pleasure of Allah, the more fruitful your charity will be. Also, this charity should be from lawful wealth, because charity from unlawful wealth is not accepted at all.
2. After sowing the seed, to obtain the yield, it is also necessary to irrigate it and protect it from pests; otherwise, the crop will either be ruined or will yield very little. Similarly, after giving charity, it should also be protected and not wasted by reminding others of your favor or by exacting service in return, as will be mentioned in the next verse.
3. Sometimes, even when the crop is ready, some earthly or heavenly calamity befalls it and completely destroys it. In a person’s deeds, these calamities are various forms of shirk. If you gave charity with a completely correct intention, then continued to irrigate and protect it, but at some point committed an act of shirk, your deeds will be ruined. Similarly, if the act is against the Sunnah (i.e., an innovation), then instead of reward, it will be deserving of punishment.
The Reward of Charity:
Yes, whoever observes these matters will indeed receive the reward mentioned in this verse, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that Allah only accepts pure wealth, so whoever gives charity from his pure wealth, even if it is equal to a date, Allah takes it in His hand and nurtures it as you nurture your calf, until that date becomes as big as a mountain. [بخاري، كتاب الزكاة، باب لا يقبل اللّٰه صدقة من غلول۔ اور باب الصدقة من كسب طيب لقوله تعالىٰ يمحق الله الربٰو اور ير بي الصدقات ....الاية- مسلم، كتاب الزكوٰة، باب الحث على الصدقة ولو بشق تمرة او كلمة طيبة۔۔۔ الخ]
[377] That is, He can give as much reward as He wishes, and He also knows with how much sincerity you performed this deed.
