his own foal—that is, his young horse—until it becomes as massive as a mountain.
Allah, exalted be He, also says, “The parable of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a single grain that sprouts seven ears; in every ear are a hundred grains. Allah multiplies [the reward] for whom He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing” (2:261).
Charity, then, is an act of beneficence and a form of worship. Whenever a person gives something of his wealth in charity, Allah, mighty and majestic, multiplies the reward and recompense for that charity and bestows blessing upon whatever remains of his property. The Prophet ﷺ has authentically said, “Charity does not diminish wealth.”
Allah mentions charitable giving right next to usury because usury is sheer injustice—a wrongful consumption of people’s money—whereas charity is goodness and kindness. Set the one alongside the other so that a person may clearly see the difference between the doers of good and the wrongdoers who consume usury.
He then says, “Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds, who establish the prayer and give the zakah, they will have their reward with their Lord; no fear shall be upon them, nor shall they grieve” (2:277), urging us to embrace faith and righteous action.
Next comes His statement: “O you who believe, fear Allah and give up what remains of usury, if you are [truly] believers” (2:278). First He commands you to fear Allah, then He says, “and give up what remains of usury,” meaning: leave it alone; do not take it. This is a specific directive that follows a general one, for fearing Allah encompasses avoiding every forbidden matter and performing every obligatory duty, and when He explicitly says “give up what remains of usury,” it is a specification after a general command.
He continues: “But if you do not do so”—that is, if you refuse to abandon what remains of your usury—“then be informed of a war from Allah and His Messenger,” and in another recitation, “then announce a war from Allah and His Messenger,” meaning: declare war against Allah and His Messenger. We ask Allah