Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 265–269

2. Al-Baqara · The Cow

Madinan286 verses

وَمَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ وَتَثْبِيتًۭا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍۭ بِرَبْوَةٍ أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌۭ فَـَٔاتَتْ أُكُلَهَا ضِعْفَيْنِ فَإِن لَّمْ يُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌۭ فَطَلٌّۭ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

2:265The parable of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s pleasure and to confirm themselves [in their faith], is that of a garden on a hillside: the downpour strikes it, whereupon it brings forth its fruit twofold; and if it is not a downpour that strikes it, then a shower, and Allah watches what you do.12

أَيَوَدُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ لَهُۥ جَنَّةٌۭ مِّن نَّخِيلٍۢ وَأَعْنَابٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ لَهُۥ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَأَصَابَهُ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَلَهُۥ ذُرِّيَّةٌۭ ضُعَفَآءُ فَأَصَابَهَآ إِعْصَارٌۭ فِيهِ نَارٌۭ فَٱحْتَرَقَتْ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ

2:266Would any of you like to have a garden of palm trees and vines, with streams running in it, with all kinds of fruit for him therein, and old age were to strike him while he has weakly offspring; whereupon a fiery hurricane were to hit it, whereat it lies burnt? Thus does Allah clarify His signs for you so that you may reflect.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَٰتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّآ أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَلَا تَيَمَّمُوا۟ ٱلْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنفِقُونَ وَلَسْتُم بِـَٔاخِذِيهِ إِلَّآ أَن تُغْمِضُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ

2:267O you who have faith! Spend of the good things you have earned [through trade and the like] and of what We bring forth for you from the earth, and do not be of the mind to give the bad part of it, for you yourselves would not take it, unless you ignore. And know that Allah is all-sufficient, all-laudable.3

ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱلْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًۭا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ

2:268Satan frightens you of poverty and prompts you to [commit] indecent acts. But Allah promises you His forgiveness and bounty, and Allah is all-bounteous, all-knowing.4

يُؤْتِى ٱلْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِىَ خَيْرًۭا كَثِيرًۭا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

2:269He grants wisdom to whomever He wishes, and he, who is given wisdom, is certainly given an abundant good, and none takes admonition except those who possess intellect.5

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 266

1.After the description of the Charity of those who showoff, the pleaders, those who cause pain and the disbelievers now the charity of the believers is mentioned. Their simile is like that of the garden whose soil is absolutely pure and fertile and even the slightest rain can cause fruits to grow from it and heavy rain can brings forth fruits even during the offseason. The charity of man is a kind of goodly rain. The harvest will be proportionate to rain. The mention of dates and grapes is only by way of example though it denotes all kinds fruits.

Verse 267

2.This is a special warning, that just as a man having children would not like to waste his property in the last stage of his life in the same way he cannot afford to spoil his deeds when the time comes to derive their gain by showing obligation or giving trouble, because after this he would no more get a chance to perform those deeds again.

Verse 269

3.After intention the actual property is mentioned. That only the purity of intention is not sufficient the wealth should also be pure and there should be charity from all kinds of income. Shaitan threatens you with poverty and invites you to be niggard or stingy but the Muslim must not heed him. That even if the life is spoiled at least the hereafter will be safe and there IS no death and destruction for the Almighty.

4.Wisdom is solid wise words and deeds. After the laws of charity attention is invited towards this point that whatever you do you must have steadfastness. The gardens which are wash away in rain, the petty mischiefs, and the deeds that are spoil by intention have no value. Every good deed must be firm on the foundations of reason and logic, faith, character and sincerity. If there is steadfastness the deed is blessed much to whom too you need reason and logic.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 1

    Tathbeetan - make yourself prepared for doing good. It is used in the meaning of Min of laam.

  2. 2

    Jannat - Thick gardens in which open space is not seen. Rabwa - Height, where trees look more beautiful. Tal - Light rain. Aesaar - Stormy wind, which is connected from the earth to the sky.

  3. 3

    Khabees - Opposite of Tayyib. Something which is neither pure and c1ean nor good.

  4. 4

    It is in the meaning of warning that he frightens you from poverty if you spend in charity. Faqr means breaking of the back and Fahsha means miserliness. Generally the word is Fahsha is used in the Quran in the meaning of adultery.

  5. 5

    Every word and action which has steadfastness and it is not merely a farce.

  6. Benefit

    The 265th ayat indicates towards two emotions of spending in charity. To make divine pleasure and perfection steadfast in the self and on the basis of this it is used in the meaning of Min of fee. Also under the explanation of ayat 268, Ali (a.s.) has said that you must spend in charity when you are in difficulties so that you may be free of difficult circumstances.