Parable of Spending in Allaah’s Cause

Allaah   (سُبحانه وتعالى)  says:

 

مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّئَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاء وَاللّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

 “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, & each ear has a hundred grains. Allâh gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. And Allâh is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower.”

(Al-Baqarah 2:261)

This is a parable that Allaah made of the multiplication of rewards for those who ...


spend in His cause, seeking His pleasure. Allaah multiplies the good deed ten to seven hundred times.

Allaah said, <<The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allaah…>>

Sa`id bin Jubayr commented, "Meaning spending in Allaah’s obedience". 

Makhul said that the Ayah means, "Spending on Jihaad, 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 Allaah `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, Imaam Ahmad recorded that Abu Mas`ud said that a man once gave away a camel, with its bridle on, in the cause of Allaah and the Messenger of Allaah said, (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 Allaah! This is in the sake of Allaah.’ The Messenger said, (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 Allaah said,

(Every good deed that the son of Aadam performs will be multiplied ten folds, to seven hundred folds, to many other folds, to as much as Allaah wills. Allaah said, "Except the fast, for it is for Me & I will reward for it. One abandons his food & desire for My sake.” The fasting person has two times of happiness: when he breaks his fast & when he meets his Lord. Verily, the odor that comes from the mouth of whoever fasts is more pure to Allaah than the scent of musk. Fasting is a shield (against sinning), fasting is a shield.)

 

Muslim recorded this Hadith.

Allaah’s statement, <<Allaah gives manifold increase to whom He wills >> is according to the person’s sincerity in his deeds.

<< And Allaah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower >> meaning, His Favour 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 Allaah.