(265) “The likeness of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s pleasure and with firm resolve from within themselves is that of a garden on elevated ground. Heavy rain falls upon it, and it yields twice its produce. If heavy rain does not fall upon it, then a light rain suffices. And Allah sees all that you do.”
This is a likeness of those who spend their wealth in a manner that causes their expenditures to flourish and their charities to be accepted. The Exalted says, “The likeness of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s pleasure,” meaning that their purpose is to seek their Lord’s pleasure and attain nearness to Him; “and with firm resolve from within themselves,” meaning that their spending proceeds from a willing soul that gives generously, not with hesitation or fainthearted reluctance to part with it.
Spending is liable to two afflictions: either a person seeks people’s praise and commendation through it—which is ostentation—or he gives with faintheartedness, weak resolve, and hesitation. These people are free from both afflictions: they spend seeking Allah’s pleasure, not any other aim, and do so with firm resolve from within themselves.
Their spending is therefore like “a garden,” meaning a place of many trees and abundant shade. The word derives from concealment, because its trees conceal what lies within it. This garden stands “on elevated ground,” exposed to the sun at the beginning, middle, and end of the day. Its fruit is therefore more abundant and finer, for it is not in a low-lying place sheltered from the wind and sun. “Heavy rain falls upon it”—that is, abundant rain—“and it yields twice its produce.” Its fruits multiply because its soil is fertile, all the necessary conditions are present, and it receives plentiful water that nourishes it and brings it to perfection. “If heavy rain does not fall upon it, then a light rain suffices,” because of the excellence of its soil.
Such is the condition of those who spend, whether in great or small amounts, each according to his circumstances. Whatever each person spends is made to grow for him in the fullest and most perfect manner. The One who causes it to grow is more merciful to you than you are to yourself and seeks your welfare even when you do not.
How astonishing! Were a garden of this description to exist in this world, people would eagerly rush toward it, everyone would vie for it, and fighting would break out over it—even though this world must end and perish, and despite its many afflictions, exhausting toil, and hardship. Yet this reward that Allah has described—as though the believer beholds it with the discerning eye of faith—is everlasting and unceasing, and contains every kind of joy and delight. Even so, you find souls asleep to it and aspirations listless in seeking it. Is this because they are indifferent to the Hereafter and its bliss, or because of weak faith in Allah’s promise and feeble hope for His reward?!
Indeed, if a servant were truly certain of it and faith in it suffused his heart with joy, his heart would be stirred by the compelling yearnings that draw him toward it, his determined aspirations would turn toward it, and his soul would readily spend abundantly in hope of its rewards. Hence the Exalted says, “And Allah sees all that you do.” He knows the deed of every person and what gave rise to it, and He will grant him the fullest recompense for it. Then the Exalted says: