مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَـٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥ وَلَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ 11
Translations
Who is it that would loan Allāh a goodly loan so He will multiply it for him and he will have a noble reward?
Transliteration
Man dhal-ladhee yuqridul-laha qardan hasanan fayudaa'ifahu lahu wa lahoo ajrun kareem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah uses the metaphor of lending to Allah to describe spending in His cause, emphasizing that voluntary charity is the noblest form of devotion. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that 'lending to Allah' means spending wealth for righteous purposes—supporting the needy, establishing Islam, or jihad—with the assurance that Allah will multiply the reward manifold and grant an honored recompense. The ayah demonstrates Allah's generosity and His appreciation for the believer's sacrifice, transforming material loss into spiritual gain.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Hadid, a Medinan chapter revealed during a period when the Muslim community faced financial pressures from warfare and social support obligations. The surah emphasizes the obligation of spending (infaq) in Allah's way, and this particular ayah serves as a powerful incentive for believers to contribute their wealth willingly and generously despite economic hardship.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best charity is when you give while you are in need' (related to themes of sacrifice). Additionally, Hadith Qudsi states: 'O son of Adam, spend and I shall spend on you' (Sahih Bukhari), directly reflecting the reciprocal generosity mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that giving in Allah's cause is not a loss but an investment with infinite returns, encouraging us to overcome material attachment and trust in Allah's promise of abundant reward. It reframes poverty and sacrifice as opportunities to demonstrate faith and receive honor both in this life and the Hereafter.
Related Ayahs
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you wherever you are. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.
لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. He gives life and causes death, and He is over all things competent.
وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ ۙ وَٱلرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَـٰقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
And why do you not believe in Allāh while the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord and He has taken your covenant, if you should [truly] be believers?
ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبُخْلِ ۗ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ
[Those] who are stingy and enjoin upon people stinginess. And whoever turns away - then indeed, Allāh is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.