Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 265

Mufti Taqi Usmani

The example of those who spend their wealth to seek the pleasure of Allah and to make firm (their faith) from (the depths of) their souls is like a garden on a foothill on which came a heavy rain, and it yielded its produce twofold. Even if a heavy rain does not come to it, a light drizzle is enough, and Allah is watchful of what you do.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And the example of those who donate their wealth, seeking Allah’s pleasure and believing the reward is certain,[[ It could also mean “… seeking Allah’s pleasure and proving their sincerity.” ]] is that of a garden on a fertile hill: when heavy rain falls, it yields up twice its normal produce. If no heavy rain falls, a drizzle is sufficient. And Allah is All-Seeing of what you do.

Ruwwad Translation Center

And the likeness of those who spend their wealth, seeking the pleasure of Allah and fortifying their own souls, is that of a garden on a fertile hill; if it is hit by a downpour, it yields double of its harvest. And if it is not hit by a downpour, then a drizzle is sufficient. And Allah is All-Seeing of what you do.

A. J. Arberry

But the likeness of those who expend their wealth, seeking God's good pleasure, and to confirm themselves, is as the likeness of a garden upon a hill; a torrent smites it and it yields its produce twofold; if no torrent smites it, yet dew; and God sees the things you do.

Abdul Haleem

But those who spend their wealth in order to gain God’s approval, and as an affirmation of their own faith, are like a garden on a hill: heavy rain falls and it produces double its normal yield; even if no heavy rain falls, it will still be watered by the dew. God sees all that you do.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And the likeness of those who expend their riches seeking the pleasure of Allah and for the strengthening of their souls is as the likeness of a garden on a height. A heavy rain falleth upon it, and it yieldeth its fruits two-fold and if no heavy rain falleth upon it, then a gentle rain and Allah is of that which ye work Beholder.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And the likeness of those who spend their substance, seeking to please Allah and to strengthen their souls, is as a garden, high and fertile; heavy rain falls on it but makes it yield a double increase of harvest, and if it receives not Heavy rain, light moisture sufficeth it. Allah seeth well whatever ye do.

Abul Ala Maududi

In contrast to them, the charity of those, who expend their wealth sincerely with the sole desire of pleasing Allah, may be likened to a garden on a plateau. If heavy rain falls, it yields its produce twofold: and even if there is no heavy rain but only a light shower, that too, is sufficient for it: whatever you do is in the sight of Allah.

Ahmed Ali

But the semblance of those who expend their wealth to please God with firm and resolute hearts, is like a garden on a height on which the rain falls and it yields its fruits twice as much; and even if the rain does not fall the dew will suffice. For God sees all that you do.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And the example of those who spend their wealth in order to seek Allah’s pleasure and to make their hearts steadfast, is similar to that of a garden on a height – hard rain fell on it, so bringing forth its fruit twofold; so if hard rain does not reach it, the dew is enough; and Allah is seeing your deeds.

Ali Quli Qarai

The 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.

Ali Ünal

The parable of those who spend their wealth in pursuit of where God’s good pleasure lies and to make their hearts firmly established (in faith) is that of a garden on a hilltop: a heavy rain falls upon it, and it yields its produce twofold; even if no heavy rain falls upon it, yet a light shower suffices. Whatever you do, God sees it well.

Amatul Rahman Omar

But the case of (charity on the part of) those who spend their wealth seeking the good pleasure of Allâh and for their own consolidation and with firm faith, is like the case of a garden situated on a highly fertile land. It is hit by heavy rain so it yields its fruit manifold; but even if heavy rain does not hit it then a mere drizzle (is sufficient) for it. And Allâh sees well what you do.

English Literal

And (the) example/proverb of those who spend their properties/wealths asking/wishing/ desiring God`s acceptances/satisfactions , and steadfastness/affirmation from themselves, (is) as (an) example/proverb (of) a treed garden with an elevated ground/hill, a heavy rain struck it , so it brought/gave its fruits two doubles, so if no strong rain struck it, so light rain/drizzle , and God (is) with what you make/do seeing/knowing .

Faridul Haque

And the example of those who spend their wealth in order to seek Allah’s pleasure and to make their hearts steadfast, is similar to that of a garden on a height - hard rain fell on it, so bringing forth its fruit twofold; so if hard rain does not reach it, the dew is enough; and Allah is seeing your deeds.

Hamid S. Aziz

But the likeness of those who expend their wealth craving the goodwill of Allah, and to strengthen their souls, are as the likeness of a fertile garden on a hill. A heavy shower falls on it, and it brings forth its yield twofold; and if no heavy shower falls on it, the dew does; Allah is Seer of all you do.

Hilali & Khan

And the likeness of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah's Pleasure while they in their ownselves are sure and certain that Allah will reward them (for their spending in His Cause), is the likeness of a garden on a height; heavy rain falls on it and it doubles its yield of harvest. And if it does not receive heavy rain, light rain suffices it. And Allah is All-Seer of (knows well) what you do.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And the parable of those who spend their wealth to seek Allah´s pleasure and for the strengthening of their souls is as the parable of a garden on elevated ground, upon which heavy rain falls, so it brings forth its fruit twofold; but if heavy rain falls not on it, light rain (suffices). And Allah is Seer of what you do.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And the parable of those who spend their property to seek the pleasure of Allah and for the certainty 'of their souls is as the parable of a garden on an elevated ground, upon which heavy rain falls so it brings forth its fruit twofold but if heavy rain does not fall upon it, then light rain (is sufficient); and Allah sees what you do.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And the likeness of those who spend their wealth in search of Allah's pleasure, and for the strengthening of their souls, is as the likeness of a garden on a height. The rainstorm smiteth it and it bringeth forth its fruit twofold. And if the rainstorm smite it not, then the shower. Allah is Seer of what ye do.

Muhammad Sarwar

The example of those who spend their property to please God out of their firm and sincere intention is as the garden on a fertile land which, after a heavy rainfall or even a drizzle, yields double produce. God is Well-Aware of what you do.

Qaribullah & Darwish

But those who give away their wealth with a desire to please Allah and to reassure themselves are like a garden on a hillside, if heavy rain strikes it, it yields up twice its normal crop, and if heavy rain does not strike it, then light rain. Allah is the Seer of what you do.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And the parable of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah's pleasure while they in their own selves are sure and certain that Allah will reward them (for their spending in His cause), is that of a garden on a height; heavy rain falls on it and it doubles its yield of harvest. And if it does not receive heavy rain, light rain suffices it. And Allah is All-Seer (knows well) of what you do.) This is the example of the believers who give away charity seeking only Allah's pleasure,

Wahiduddin Khan

But those who spend their wealth in order to gain God's approval, and to strengthen their souls are like a garden on elevated ground. When heavy rain falls on it, it doubles its produce; and if heavy rain does not fall, then light rain suffices. God sees what you do.

Talal Itani

And the parable of those who spend their wealth seeking God’s approval, and to strengthen their souls, is that of a garden on a hillside. If heavy rain falls on it, its produce is doubled; and if no heavy rain falls, then dew is enough. God is seeing of everything you do.

Tafsir jalalayn

But the likeness, of the expenditure, of those who expend their wealth, seeking God's good pleasure, and to confirm themselves, that is, to realise the reward thereof, in contrast to the hypocrites who do not hope for it, since they do not believe in it, is as the likeness of a garden, an orchard, upon a hill, (read rabwa or rubwa) a high ground; a torrent smites it and it yields, gives forth, its produce (read ukulah or uklah), its fruits, twofold, twice the fruits of another [garden]; if no torrent smites it, then dew, (tall, a light drizzle) which falls on it and suffices it on account of its altitude. In other words, it grows and bears fruit, regardless of how much rain falls; likewise are the expenditures of those mentioned; they will increase with God, regardless of how much they were; and God sees what you do, and He will requite you for it.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah says;

وَمَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمُ ابْتِغَاء مَرْضَاتِ اللّهِ

وَتَثْبِيتًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ

And the parable of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah's pleasure while they in their own selves are sure and certain that Allah will reward them (for their spending in His cause),

This is the example of the believers who give away charity seeking only Allah's pleasure,
وَتَثْبِيتًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ
(while they in their own selves are sure and certain) meaning, they are certain that Allah shall reward them for these righteous acts with the best rewards.

Similarly, in a Hadith collected by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Messenger of Allah said,

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا

Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and expectation...

meaning, believing that Allah commanded the fast, all the while awaiting His reward for fasting it.

Allah's statement,

كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍ بِرَبْوَةٍ

is that of a garden on a Rabwah,

means, the example of a garden on `a height above the ground', as the majority of scholars have stated.

Ibn Abbas and Ad-Dahhak added that it also has flowing rivers.

Allah's statement,

أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ
Wabil falls on it,

means, heavy rain as we stated, So it produces its,

and it doubles its yield of harvest. And if it does not receive heavy rain, light rain suffices it.

فَأتَتْ أُكُلَهَا

its yield of harvest,

meaning, fruits or produce,

ضِعْفَيْنِ

doubles,

as compared to other gardens.

فَإِن لَّمْ يُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّ

And if it does not receive Wabil, a Tall suffices it.

Ad-Dahhak said that;

the `Tall' is light rain.

The Ayah indicates that the garden on the Rabwah is always fertile, for if heavy rain does not fall on it, light rain will suffice for it. Such is the case regarding the believer's good deeds, for they never become barren. Rather, Allah accepts the believer's righteous deeds and increases them, each according to his deeds. This is why Allah said next,

وَاللّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ



And Allah is All-Seer of what you do.

meaning, none of His servants' deeds ever escapes His perfect watch