"Who is the one who would give Allah a good loan so that Allah multiplies it for him many times? And Allah withholds and extends, and to Him you are to be returned." (2:245)

Commentary

1) (who would give Allah a good loan?) the word 'loan' refers to good deeds and to the act of spending in the way of Allah. This was expressed figuratively as qard (literally, 'loan'), otherwise everything belongs to Allah. It simply means that whatever you spend will surely be returned to you (in the form of a reward in the Hereafter) just as a loan is surely returned. The promise of increased or multiplied return appears in a hadith which declares that a date spent in the way of Allah is so increased by Allah Almighty that it outgrows the mountain of Uhud. Giving 'loan' to Allah Almighty has also been explained as the giving of actual loan to His slaves i.e. the human beings and thereby helping them in their hour of need. So, the act of giving loan has been credited with great merit in Hadith. The noble Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: 'For every Muslim, who gives loan to another Muslim, it will be equal to having given sadaqah (charity) twice.' (Mazhari with reference to Ibn Majah)

2) Hearing this verse, says Ibn al-'Arabi (ra), people split in three groups. The first group is that of those unfortunate people who, after hearing this verse, said: 'Muhammad's Lord is poor, and we are rich.' The reply to this comment was given by another verse: 'Allah has surely heard the saying of those who said, "Allah is poor and we are rich".' (3:181)

The second group is that of those who, hearing this verse, elected to act against it and adopted miserliness as their way of life. The love and greed of material possessions so tied them down that they remained deprived of the very ability to spend in the way of Allah.

The third group is that of sincere Muslims who lost no time and acted as directed by the verse giving the best of their possessions in the way of Allah, such as is the case of Companion Abu al-Dahdah (ra) and others. When this verse was revealed, Sayyidna Abu al-Dahdah (ra) presented himself before the Holy Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and asked him: 'O Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be sacrificed to you, does Allah Almighty need loan from us, although He is Ghani, the one who needs no loan?' The Holy Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: 'Yes, Allah Almighty does wish to grant you entry in Paradise through it.' Hearing this, Sayyidna Abu al-Dahdah (ra) said 'Let the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) stretch his hand forward.' He stretched his band forward. Now Abu al-Dahdah (ra) started saying: 'I own two date farms. I own nothing except these. I give the loan of these two farms of mine to Allah Almighty.' The Holy Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said to him: 'Dedicate one of these as waqf (endowment) in the way of Allaah and keep the other to take care of your family needs.' Abu al-Dahdah (ra) said: "You be my witness that I spend the better of the two farms which has six hundred date trees in the way of Allah." He said: 'Allah will bless you with Paradise in return.'

Abu al-Dahdah (ra) came to his house and told his wife about it. She too was very pleased with this wonderful deal. The noble Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: 'Countless trees laden with dates and spacious palaces are eagerly waiting for Abu al-Dahdah (in Paradise).' (Qurtubi)

3) While returning qard (loan), paying a little more than taken is a favourable practice only if any increase on the amount of loan has not been made a pre-condition. The Holy Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: 'The best person among you is the one who fulfils his obligation (loan) in a good manner.'

If increase or premium has been made a condition, then, that is
haraam (unlawful), and it is riba (interest) as well.

See Also:

Virtues Of Sadaqah (Charity) - http://www.muftisays.com/blog/Seifeddine-M/883_11-01-2011/virtues-of-sadaqah-%28charity%29.html

» Posted by Seifeddine-M on 10th September 2011

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