Surah Al-Baqarah 2:245
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 245 of 286
مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَـٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥٓ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Translation
Who will give God a good loan, which He will increase for him many times over? It is God who withholds and God who gives abundantly, and it is to Him that you will return.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse, situated among passages about fighting in Allah's way, issues a profound invitation from Allah to believers. It’s a call to reflect on our generosity and trust in Him. Allah Himself is speaking directly, inviting us to an act of faith that promises immense returns. The tone is one of encouragement and assurance, gently reminding us of His absolute control and our ultimate destination.
The Divine Invitation
The verse opens with a rhetorical question: `مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا` (Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan?). This isn't a literal question expecting a name, but rather, as scholars like Ibn Ashur and al-Razi explain, a powerful form of encouragement and incitement. It’s like saying, "Surely, there must be someone truly worthy of this immense good!" It prompts us to aspire to be that person. The idea of "loaning Allah" is a beautiful metaphor. Allah, being the All-Rich, does not need anything from us. Instead, this expression, as Ibn Ashur notes, emphasizes the absolute certainty that our deeds will be returned and rewarded. When you loan someone, you expect repayment; when you "loan Allah," repayment is not just expected, it is guaranteed and multiplied. What makes this a `قَرْضًا حَسَنًا` (a goodly loan)? Al-Razi highlights that it must be pure from ill-gotten gains, free from showing off or causing harm, and performed with sincere intention solely for Allah's pleasure.
Guaranteed Returns
The verse continues `فَيُضَـٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥٓ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً` (so He will multiply it for him manifold, many folds). This phrase promises an exponential return on our good deeds. The word `كَثِيرَةً` (many) is left deliberately open-ended. As al-Razi observes, this vagueness itself is a powerful motivator, implying that the reward is not fixed or limited, but rather beyond human calculation, known only to Allah. This open promise strengthens our hope and encourages boundless generosity.
Who Controls All
Then comes a crucial statement: `وَٱللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ` (And Allah withholds and gives abundance). These are two of Allah's Divine Names, Al-Qabid (The Withholder) and Al-Basit (The Expander). Ibn Ashur explains that this refers to Allah's control over sustenance and provision, both physical and spiritual. He can narrow provisions for some and expand them for others, and likewise, constrict hearts from doing good or open them to it. This serves as a profound reassurance: our fear of poverty or loss should not hinder our giving, because ultimate control over all provision rests with Allah alone. He promises to replace what is given for His sake, and what He withholds or expands is by His wisdom.
The Final Return
The verse concludes with `وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ` (And to Him you will be returned). This is a stark reminder of our ultimate return to Allah after death. Ibn Ashur points out that this phrase underscores the immense reward prepared in the Hereafter for those who give generously, a reward far greater than any earthly gain. It also serves as a subtle warning to those who might be stingy, reminding them of the accountability and consequences on that ultimate Day. This final statement places our acts of giving within the larger context of our life's purpose and eternal destiny.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn
Wisdom
As we approach this profound verse, let us open our hearts with humility and reverence, ready to be shaped by Allah's divine words.
The Divine Invitation
Allah opens this verse with a powerful, rhetorical question: "مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا" (Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan?). This question isn't because Allah, the All-Rich, needs anything from us. As Mufti Shafi explains, it is a beautiful figure of speech, inviting us to understand that whatever we spend in His way will surely be returned to us, much like a loan. It's an invitation primarily to believers to give generously in Allah's cause, particularly to support efforts like *jihad* (striving for Allah's cause) and other acts of charity. A "goodly loan" (قَرْضًا حَسَنًا) implies giving from lawful earnings, with a sincere heart, seeking Allah's pleasure alone, without seeking praise or causing harm, as al-Saadi notes.
An Unimaginable Return
The verse promises an astounding reward: "فَيُضَـٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥٓ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً" (and He will multiply it for him many fold). This multiplication is not merely linear; it's exponential. Mufti Shafi recounts a Hadith where even a single date given in Allah's way is multiplied until it outgrows the mountain of Uhud. Al-Saadi highlights that a single good deed can be multiplied from ten times to seven hundred times, or even more, depending on the sincerity of the giver, their intention, and the benefit of their donation. This generous promise encourages us to detach from worldly possessions and invest in an eternal return.
Trusting Allah's Provision
A natural human concern when giving is the fear of depleting one's wealth. The verse directly addresses this by reminding us: "وَٱللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ" (And Allah withholds and grants abundance). As al-Saadi and al-Munir explain, Allah alone controls provision. He expands sustenance for whomever He wills and restricts it for whomever He wills, with perfect wisdom. Our acts of giving or withholding do not alter His decree. This serves as a powerful reassurance: true wealth and sustenance are in Allah's hands, not dependent on what we cling to. Giving in His way does not decrease our provision; rather, it often becomes a means of blessing and increase.
Our Ultimate Destination
The verse concludes with "وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ" (And to Him you will be returned). This serves as a profound reminder that our time and resources in this life are temporary. Every action, every spending, will be accounted for when we return to Allah. It solidifies the wisdom of investing our fleeting resources into that which will yield eternal reward. The story of Abu al-Dahdah, who upon hearing this verse, instantly gave away his best date farm for the sake of Allah, illustrates this deep trust and immediate action, understanding that the real gain is with Allah in the Hereafter.
This verse offers a timeless lesson: True generosity stems from a deep trust in Allah, knowing that He is the ultimate Provider and Rewarder, and that our ultimate return is to Him. It encourages us to cultivate a heart that is eager to give, free from the fear of scarcity, and focused on the boundless recompense awaiting us.
Sources: Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Saadi (Taysir al-Karim), al-Qurtubi (al-Jami li-Ahkam), Ibn al-Jawzi (Zad al-Masir), al-Munir (Wahba al-Zuhayli)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:245 is discussed in 6 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Baqarah 2:245 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.