This also contains a supremely powerful, tangible demonstration of Allah’s power and of His bringing the dead to life for resurrection and recompense. The Exalted tells us that His close friend Abraham asked Him to show him with his own eyes how He gives life to the dead. Abraham was already certain of this because Allah had informed him of it, but he wished to witness it directly so that he might attain the degree of certainty gained through sight. Hence Allah said to him, “Do you not believe?” He replied, “Yes indeed, but so that my heart may be reassured.” This is because the convergence of certain proofs increases faith and perfects certainty, and those endowed with knowledge strive to attain it.
His Lord therefore said to him, “Then take four birds and draw them close to you”—that is, gather them to yourself so that this takes place within your sight, under your direct observation, and by your own hands. “Then place a portion of them on every mountain”—that is, tear them apart, mix their parts together, and place a portion of those parts on each of the mountains nearby. “Then call them; they will come swiftly to you”—that is, they will be restored to full life and will come to you with such vigor and speed of flight. Abraham (peace be upon him) did so and obtained what he had sought. This was part of the dominion of the heavens and earth that Allah showed him in His words: “Thus We showed Abraham the dominion of the heavens and earth, so that he might be among those possessing certainty.”
He then said, “And know that Allah is Almighty, All-Wise”—that is, He possesses immense power by which He has subjected all created beings. Nothing among them can defy Him; rather, they submit to His might and are humbled before His majesty. Yet His actions, Exalted is He, are governed by His wisdom: He does nothing without purpose.
The Exalted then said:
(261) “The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that of a grain which grows seven ears, with a hundred grains in every ear. Allah multiplies for whomever He wills, and Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.”
This explains the multiplication that Allah mentioned in ⦗113⦘ His words: “Who is it that will lend Allah a goodly loan, so that He may multiply it for him many times over?” Here He says, “The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah”—that is, in obedience to Him and in pursuit of His pleasure, foremost among such spending being expenditure in jihad in His way—“is that of a grain which grows seven ears, with a hundred grains in every ear.” This parable brings the image of multiplication vividly before the mind through something the servant can witness with his physical sight, enabling him to perceive this multiplication with his inner sight. The evidence of faith is thereby reinforced by the evidence of direct observation, and the soul willingly submits to spending, gives generously, and hopes for this abundant multiplication and magnificent favor.
“Allah multiplies” by this amount “for whomever He wills”—that is, according to the condition, sincerity, and truthfulness of the one who spends, and according to the nature of the expenditure, its lawfulness and benefit, and whether it is directed to its proper place. Alternatively, “Allah multiplies for whomever He wills” may mean that He multiplies it beyond even this amount, granting them their reward without measure.
“Allah is All-Bountiful”: His grace and giving are boundless. Nothing He grants diminishes what He possesses, and no petitioner can exhaust Him. The one who spends should therefore not imagine that such multiplication involves any exaggeration, for nothing is too great for Allah, nor does even abundant giving diminish what He possesses. Yet He is also “All-Knowing” of who deserves this multiplication and who does not, and in His perfect knowledge and wisdom He grants it where it properly belongs.