-
What Is The Difference Between These Ayah And Why Rewards Are Different?
Some of the following Ayahs are clear as to why the rewards are different, but then others state something different. Will you please clarify for me.
[2:261] The example of those who spend their monies in the cause of GOD is that of a grain that produces seven spikes, with a hundred grains in each spike. GOD multiplies this manifold for whomever He wills. GOD is Bounteous, Knower.
[6:160] Whoever does a righteous work receives the reward for ten, and the one who commits a sin is requited for only one. No one suffers the slightest injustice.
[25:70] Exempted are those who repent, believe, and lead a righteous life. GOD transforms their sins into credits. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[25:71] Those who repent and lead a righteous life, GOD redeems them; a complete redemption.
[57:28] O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD and believe in His messenger. He will then grant you double the reward from His mercy, endow you with light to guide you, and forgive you. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
-
3 Replies
-
What Is The Difference Between These Ayah And Why Rewards Are Different?
updated 2 years, 5 months ago
2 Members
·
3
Replies
-
“Those who spend their wealth in the way of God can be compared to a grain of corn which brings forth seven ears, each bearing a hundred grains. God [in accordance with His wisdom] provides in abundance [in this manner] to whom He wills; And [in reality] God is munificent and all-knowing. (2:261)
Imam Amin Ahsan Islahi writes:
This is a parable which depicts the manifold increase in the reward for spending wealth in the way of God. It is said that just as seven ears sprout from a corn and each ear will have a hundred grains, similarly the reward of a deed given to a person can be up to seven hundred times. Some Hadith narratives also explain this theme. It is reported that the Prophet (sws) said that the reward of a good deed ranges from ten times to seven hundred times. This variation obviously depends on the nature of the deed, the time in which it is done and the internal and external circumstances of those who do the deed. If a good deed is done in difficult circumstances and with straitened resources, it will earn more reward and if a good deed is done in times of ease and with ample resources, its reward will be relatively less. The feelings of the people who do the deed also count. A good deed may be done with complete willingness of heart and enthusiasm and it may also be done half-heartedly and under compulsion. Obviously both would earn different reward. The verse depicts the maximum reward and it is said: “God provides in abundance [in this manner] to whom He wills.” This is a reference to the principle we have alluded to. Allah’s will is never against justice and wisdom. Hence this manifold reward is willed by Him only in favour of those who prove themselves worthy in accordance with the principle set for them.
This is further explained by saying that if this spending is done to please God and to discipline the soul, then this is the example of the person who plants an orchard not on land which is washed away by floods but on such high and even ground where the climate is also favourable so that if there is rain it bears double the fruit and if there is no rain, a light drizzle is sufficient to bear fruit because of conducive land and climatic conditions:
وَمَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمُ ابْتِغَاء مَرْضَاتِ اللّهِ وَتَثْبِيتًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍ بِرَبْوَةٍ أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ فَآتَتْ أُكُلَهَا ضِعْفَيْنِ فَإِن لَّمْ يُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّ وَاللّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ (2: 265)
And those who spend their wealth to please God and to firmly attach their own souls [to the truth] are like an orchard which is on a high and level ground: if a heavy shower falls upon it, it yields up twice its normal produce; and even if a heavy shower does not fall on it, a drizzle is enough [to produce fruit. Keep this example in mind] and [rest assured that] God knows whatever you do. (2:265)“…
(Excerpt from Meezan: Javed Ahmed Ghamidi)
(Translated by Dr. SHehzad Saleem)
-
Thank you brother Umer for a comprehensive response.
I still feel as if it is not clear why in different verses reward for good deeds is different. Do you mean to say that the amount of rewards depends upon the intention and sacrifice of the person? If that is what you mean, I do not see any context or mention of such thing is Quran. There is no mention of a deed, intention or level of sacrifice mentioned before or after each verse.
For a non Muslim, it seems like these are inconsistent verses in Quran.
-
-
It is true that these factors are not mentioned in these verses directly. However, they can inferred from other verses of the Quran. These verses mention the generosity of God on the people who turn toward Him and there’s no reason for God to limit his generosity to a single ratio only. Besides, it is only logical and because of God’s attrubute of Justice and Wisdom, that reward distrubution should vary (so does the God’s generosity) depending upon the nature of the deed, the time in which it is done and the internal and external circumstances of those who do the deed. The same has been done in Quran as well, where distinctions have been drawn between Sabiqoon-al-awwaloon, Shuhada, Siddiqeen and the others. They were given higher ranks becasue of the very factors.
Somewhat similar distinction can be seen in Quran 49:14-15:
قَالَتِ الْأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوْا وَلَكِن قُوْلُوْا اَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الْإِيمَانُ فِیْ قُلُوْبِكُمْ وَاِنْ تُطِيعُوا اللّٰهَ وَرَسُوْلَهُ لَا يَلِتْكُمْ مِّنْ اَعْمَالِكُمْ شَيْئًا إِنَّ اللّٰهَ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِيْمٌ. اِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا بِاللّٰهِ وَرَسُوْلِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتَابُوْا وَجَاهَدُوْا بِاَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاَنفُسِهِمْ فِیْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ اُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُوْنَ.
[While expressing favour to you,] these Bedouins [who call out to you from outside your quarters] say: “We profess faith.” Tell them: You have not professed faith. Indeed, what you can say is: “We have become obedient.” Faith has not even entered your hearts as yet. If you obey God and His messenger, God shall not make any reduction in your deeds. [So, reform your selves.] God certainly is Forgiving, Ever-Merciful. [Remember that] believers in reality are only those who professed faith in God and His Messenger, then were not afflicted with doubt and fought in the way of God through their wealth and their persons. It is these who are the truthful.
Here, in this case, distinction has been drawn between obedience and faith. And basic reward scheme has been described i.e. “God shall not make any reduction in your deeds” instead of multiplied rewards in this case because of the same factors that are present in this case thus soliciting a mention of basic reward scheme.
Sponsor Ask Ghamidi
