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السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

There is an ayah in the Qur’an that has the power to flip your relationship with money, fear, generosity, and reward all at once. Allah says:

“Who is it that will lend Allah a goodly loan, so He will multiply it for him many times over? And Allah withholds and gives, and to Him you will return.” (Al-Baqarah 2:245)

It’s a call to completely rethink what giving actually means. The companions understood that immediately and one man in particular turned the ayah into a living example.

A Man Who Gave His Best, Not His Leftovers

When Abu al-Dahdāh heard this verse, he asked the Prophet ﷺ:

“Does Allah really ask us for a loan?”

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Yes.”

Without hesitation, Abu al-Dahdāh gave away his entire orchard - his beautiful garden filled with palm trees, shade, fruit, and comfort. A place his wife and children loved.

When he went to tell his wife, he didn’t announce it with sadness. It's said he recited beautiful lines:

“I have given it to my Lord, trusting Him,
not seeking praise, not turning back.
Leave it with love, for it has gone on
as a loan that will return multiplied…
And the best provision for the Hereafter
is righteousness.”

And what did his wife say?

“May Allah give you joy and goodness!
You did what is right, and you advised sincerely.”

This is not the reaction of a family losing wealth.
It’s the reaction of a family gaining certainty.

What Does It Mean to “Lend to Allah”?

Of course, Allah does not “need” anything.
So why does He use the language of a loan?

1. To make the promise personal

A loan must be returned.
Allah is teaching us:

“Nothing you give is lost. Nothing.”

2. To make the reward feel guaranteed

A loan is not charity - you expect it back.
But with Allah, you expect it back multiplied.

3. To show the dignity of the giver

Allah could have said “give Me charity.”
Instead, He said:

“Lend Me a good loan.”
A loan free of pride, free of showing off, free of complaint.

The Multiplication Has No Limit

Allah doesn’t say ten times or seven hundred times.
He says:

“…many, many times over.”

Open-ended.
Unlimited.
Dependent on sincerity, not quantity.

A single dollar given with a clean heart can outweigh a thousand given with pride.

Allah Controls Rizq So Stop Fearing Loss

The ayah ends with a reminder we often ignore:

“Allah withholds and gives.”

Meaning:

Your salary is not your provider.
Your savings are not your protection.
Your business is not your security.

Allah is the One who tightens and opens.
You don’t lose when you give.
You lose when you cling to what was never yours.

Practical Lessons for Today

1. Give quietly and sincerely.

A “good loan” is free of showing off.
Give without waiting for applause.

2. Support what benefits the Ummah.

Your “loan” can be:

relief for a poor family
supporting da‘wah
helping Qur’an students
funding useful community projects
donating Islamic books or causes that spread knowledge

Everything invested for Allah grows forever.

3. Train your heart to trust the unseen.

Every time you give, remind yourself:

“I am lending to Allah, and He never fails to repay.”

4. Remember the return is guaranteed

but the return is not always money.
Sometimes Allah gives:

peace
guidance
protection
barakah
good relationships
children with iman
or saving you from harm you never saw.

This is still multiplication, even if you didn’t recognize it.

A Closing Reminder

One day, everything you hold with your hand will slip away. But everything you “loaned” to Allah will stand waiting for you - multiplied, purified, and eternal.

So the real question of the ayah is:

Are you willing to trust Allah the way Abu al-Dahdāh trusted Him?
Or will you let fear shrink what was meant to expand?

May Allah make us people who give with courage, live with certainty, and meet Him with hearts that trusted His promise.

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في امان الله.