The parable of a grain of corn .............

مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمۡوَٲلَهُمۡ فِى

سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتۡ سَبۡعَ

سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍ۬ مِّاْئَةُ حَبَّةٍ۬‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ

يُضَـٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٲسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمۡوَٲلَهُمۡ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ

ثُمَّ لَا يُتۡبِعُونَ مَآ أَنفَقُواْ مَنًّ۬ا وَلَآ أَذً۬ى‌ۙ

لَّهُمۡ أَجۡرُهُمۡ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ وَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ

وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ قَوۡلٌ۬ مَّعۡرُوفٌ۬ وَمَغۡفِرَةٌ

خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ۬ يَتۡبَعُهَآ أَذً۬ى‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ

غَنِىٌّ حَلِيمٌ۬

" The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn: it groweth seven ears, and each ear hath a hundred grains. Allah giveth manifold increase to whom He pleaseth; and Allah careth for all and He knoweth all things. Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah and follow not up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury,― for them their reward is with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and He is Most Forbearing."

(Qur'an: Baqarah: 2: 261-263)

REFLECTION

One aspect of the teaching of Islam pertains to the commandments (whether as 'wajibat' - obligatory, or 'mandubat' - recommended) which directs Muslims to give or spend portions of their wealth "in the Way of Allah." To carry out this act, should not be difficult because obviously whatever we possess or acquire, actually belongs to Allah, and not ours. We are merely temporary custodians of them. Yet, we hesitate when directed by Allah, we make excuses, we even deny by imagining that this commandment is not really directed at us - all because our greed, our possessive tendencies, our selfish inclinations, miserliness, our love for worldly things, etc. - interprete these spendings as though it will diminish our wealth, that it will lead to poverty. We become stingy, calculative and perhaps even harbour resentment towards the One Who, in the first place, has bestowed upon us these bounties and provisions. We may be guilty of being ungrateful, having negative thoughts of Allah s.w.t. We forgot that Allah is the One Who is also named "al-Ghaniyy - ٱلۡغَنِىُّ " (meaning: 'the one who is rich', or literally 'the one without any needs, free of all wants.'). We have gravely erred and foolishly mistaken. The commandment is actually meant to give us increase, to enrich us in the truest sense of the word, yet we are blinded by selfish greed and the foolishness of placing importance to this temporary world, rather than the eternal and everlasting Hereafter. Allah chastises with:

هَـٰٓأَنتُمۡ
هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدۡعَوۡنَ لِتُنفِقُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ
ٱللَّهِ فَمِنڪُم مَّن
يَبۡخَلُ‌ۖ وَمَن يَبۡخَلۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَبۡخَلُ عَن
نَّفۡسِهِۦ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ
ٱلۡغَنِىُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡفُقَرَآءُ‌ۚ وَإِن
تَتَوَلَّوۡاْ يَسۡتَبۡدِلۡ قَوۡمًا
غَيۡرَكُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓاْ
أَمۡثَـٰلَكُم

"Behold, ye are those invited to spend (of your substance) in the way of Allah: but among you are some that are niggardly (miserly). But any who are niggardly (miserly)are so at the expense of their own souls. But Allah is free of all wants, and it is ye that are needy. If ye turn back (from the Path), He will substitute in your stead another people; then they would not be like you! "

(Qur'an: Muhammad: 47: 38)

The promised reward

SUB-HAA-NALLAAH! If we still harbour doubts that these spendings 'in Allah's way' would indeed generate a handsome and most appealing return for us, Allah s.w.t. assures us with this promise, using our language and our imagery in this parable. And Allah s.w.t. never breaks His promises. Consider the offer.....

One seed will be repaid with seven hundred seeds in return! And this is the minimum return, because Allah s.w.t. added a clause, " Allah giveth manifold increase to whom He pleaseth." Of course, this allegorical use of seed and corn would not mean that the reward in the Hereafter would consist of similar worldly things, but these would be in the form of everlasting happiness and pleasing things which our Prophet s.a.w. aptly put: "heavenly reward of pleasure ....... which no eyes has yet seen, nor has it ever crossed man's heart (imagined)."

The Qur'anic use of number seven, according to scholars, represents 'many or its numerousness'. Yet, the 'seven' here is even multiplied by a hundred, Sub-Haa-nAllaah! And to reject the offer of the exchange from something temporary with another that is permanent, surely is foolish. Indeed, Allah s.w.t. is the Most Generous and Gracious, and we would be most unjust not to heed and obey Him.

Important Ettiquette in giving

Even in acts of goodness, there are attitudes or subsequent acts which may nullify it. Spending in Allah's way as in charity, if one is not mindful, may afflict us with arrogance and self-conceit that may lead to actions that negate all its goodness. Allah s.w.t. warns that :"Allah cares for all and He knows all things." Be careful, especially in our intentions, though hidden from people, is best known to Allah.

He warns again: That He will accept and reward only those who "follow not up their gift with reminders of their generosity or with injury." How often, we may have been guilty of bringing up deeds of charity, motivated by our conceit which thrive on praises and acknowledgement from people or from those whom we gave. Are we not sincere in our acts? If it really was done for Allah, then it should suffice us that Allah s.w.t. knows this, and there should not be any need for us to bring this up to people again. It would indeed be worst if the motive for us bringing it up is condescending, meant to hurt - especially when those who benefit from our acts of kindness, return those favours with display of ungratefulness and even arrogance. We may think it to be justified for us to retaliate by bringing up the past. But no! Do not negate our 'amal, but we must perservere patiently (Sabr), and say kind words, and overlook their behavior towards us. Allah s.w.t. knows this and thus advises us - "kind words and the covering of faults is better that charity followed by injury!"

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمۡنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَتَرۡحَمۡنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرِينَ

رَبَّنَآ أَفۡرِغۡ عَلَيۡنَا صَبۡرً۬ا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسۡلِمِينَ

"Our Lord! we have wronged our own souls: if Thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy we shall certainly be lost.

Our Lord! pour out on us patience and constancy, and Take our souls unto Thee as Muslims (who bow to Thy will)"! "

May Salutations and peace be upon the Prophet Muhammad and his family, Companions and all those who follow and assist this Deen till the Hereafter. Aa-min!

Wa Allaahu a'lam

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