مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَـٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥٓ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ 245
Translations
Who is it that would loan Allāh a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allāh who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned.
Transliteration
Man dha alladhi yuqridu Allaha qardan hasanan fayudaAAifahu lahu adAAafan kathirah. Wa Allahu yaqbidu wayabsut wa ilayhi turjaAAun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the metaphor of lending to Allah (qard al-hasan) as an investment in charity and good deeds, which Allah multiplies manifold in return. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this refers to spending in the way of Allah—whether in charity, supporting the needy, or other righteous causes—which Allah promises to reward abundantly on the Day of Judgment. The ayah emphasizes Allah's complete sovereignty over all provision (qabd and bast) and reminds humanity that ultimately all return to Him for final judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan period of Surah Al-Baqarah, which addresses the Muslim community's practical and spiritual needs. It comes within a section discussing financial obligations and charitable giving, encouraging the early Muslim community to invest their wealth in Allah's cause despite economic challenges they faced.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need yet gives, and the best loan is that which is given with good intention.' (Related themes in Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also relevant: 'Who will lend to Allah a good loan?' (Sahih Bukhari 2389, where the Prophet uses this Quranic metaphor to encourage charity).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that generosity and charitable giving are not losses but investments with infinite returns guaranteed by Allah, transforming our relationship with wealth from possession to stewardship. It encourages a mindset of trusting in Allah's abundance rather than hoarding, knowing that true security comes from His promise, not material accumulation.
Related Ayahs
وَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَخْرِجُوهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ ۚ وَٱلْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ ٱلْقَتْلِ ۚ وَلَا تُقَـٰتِلُوهُمْ عِندَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ حَتَّىٰ يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ ۖ فَإِن قَـٰتَلُوكُمْ فَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And kill them [in battle] wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al-Ḥarām until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakāh will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - upon them will be the curse of Allāh and of the angels and the people, all together,
وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And when a messenger from Allāh came to them confirming that which was with them, a party of those who had been given the Scripture threw the Scripture of Allāh [i.e., the Torah] behind their backs as if they did not know [what it contained].