Likeness of those who spend their wealth

Likeness of those who spend their wealth

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)

Stage – 1, Verses – 264b & 265 of 286, Section – 36 of 40 (Part - 3)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

264b.  Like him who spendeth his wealth only to be seen of men and believeth not in Allah and the Last Day. His likeness is as the likeness of a rock whereon is dust of earth; a rainstorm smiteth it, leaving it smooth and bare. They have no control of aught of that which they have gained. And Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk.

264b.  Kallazii yunfiqu  maalahuu  ri- ‘aaa- ‘an-naasi  wa  laa  yu’- minu  BIllaahi  wal-Yawmil- ‘Aakhir.  Famasa-lahuu  kamasali  saf-waanin  ‘alayhi  turaabun- fa- ‘asaabahuu  waabilun-  fatarakahuu  saldaa.  Laa  yaqdiruuna  ‘alaa  shay- ‘im-mimmaa  kasabuu.  WAllaahu  laa  yahdil-  qawmal-  kaafiriin.

Lesson

God Almighty declares in this verse that the person who dissembles, does not have belief in Allah Almighty and the Day of Resurrection. The charity and Alms become spurious only with hypocrisy, as even he is a Believer too. Restriction of belief has been expanded so that it may be known that dissembling is far from the dignity of a Believer. Ostentation is suitable only according to the condition of Hypocrites and Infidels. The likeness of alms-giving was so told in the earlier verses, as any person sowed a seed of grain, seven hundred seeds produced from it. Now Allah Almighty commanded that good intent is necessary for acquiring increased manifold reward. If anybody gave alms and charity for the purpose of insincerity and show, then his likeness is like that seed, which is sowed on the rock, where he saw some dust of earth. However, when it rained, the rock remained quite clear and instead of growing seven hundred seeds of grain, nothing produced there. Moreover the original seed of grain also blew.

The likeness of sowing a seed of grain on the rock is entirely according to the proper condition of the treacherous person, because as apparently rock deceives that perhaps the seed may grow on it, like this a dissemble also gives impression to the viewers seemingly that he spends for the cause of God Almighty. Nevertheless, as internally the seed cannot grow on rock, likewise, the heart of that individual becomes different from his open circumstances, and any good deed can never be performed by his hands, because his heart is hard like a rock and cruel.

Such misled people, who tyrannize and deceive themselves, and try to deceive others, Allah Almighty will not guide them towards the straight path because they have become so strong in their intentions that they do never become ready to hear any good talk.  

       

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265.  And the likeness of those who spend their wealth in search of Allah’s pleasure, and for the strengthening of their souls, is as the likeness of a garden on a height. The rainstorm smiteth it and it bringeth forth its fruit twofold. And if the rainstorm smite it not, then a shower would be enough. And Allah is Seer of what ye do.

265.  Wa  masalul-laziina  yun-fiquuna  ‘am-waalahu-mub-tigaaa- ‘a  marzaaTIllaahi  wa  tasbiitam-min  ‘anfusihim  kamasali  jannatim-  bi-rabwatin  ‘asaabahaa  waabilun-  fa- ‘aatat  ‘ukulahaa  zi’-fayn.  Fa- ‘il-lam    yusib-haa  waabilun-  fatall.  WAllaahu  bimaa  ta’-maluuna  Basiir.

Lesson

God Almighty has described in this verse about those people who spend their wealth only for the purpose that Allah Almighty may be pleased, they may get His pleasure and they may prove their obedience.

Allah Almighty illustrated the likeness of those people with the garden, which is situated on a height; air of that place is naturally witty and productive. The rainstorm smites it and this garden brings forth its fruit twofold. Moreover, if the rainstorm does not smite it, and drops only a shower, then only that shower would be enough, even then it will bring some fruit.  

 

Here, the likeness of rainstorm has been given as spending the wealth and the purpose of telling the garden on height is that his intention is entirely pure. He spends only for the Will of Allah Almighty. Therefore, if he spends his wealth very much, then its result will also be as good as the rainstorm smites the garden and it brings fruit twofold. In the form of clear intention, if he spends a little, even then, he will get reward equally as due to only drizzle the garden certainly brings also some fruit.

Another reality has been described here that as the humankind inclines from badness to evil, like this, he turns with good action toward the goodness and naturally, he remains steadfast on the goodness.

Fortunate are those people who advance toward the goodness and refrain from the badness.  

We should never forget it that the huge sacrifice of spending the wealth is wasted due to the concept of in-sincerity, showing kindness and putting someone in trouble.

On the other hand, a little Alms-giving is much fruitful on the condition that the purpose of it is only to do one’s duty and the pleasure of Allah Almighty.         

  

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Pak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)