Garden on a height

“And the parable of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s pleasure while they in their own selves are sure and certain that Allah will reward them (for their spending in His cause), is that of a garden on a height; heavy rain falls on it and it doubles its yield of harvest. And if it does not receive heavy rain, light rain suffices it. And Allah is All-Seer (knows well) of what you do.)” (2:265)

Tafsir (Ibn Kathir)

This is the example of the believers who give away charity seeking only Allah’s pleasure.

(while they in their own selves are sure and certain) meaning, they are certain that Allah shall reward them for these righteous acts with the best rewards. Similarly, in a Hadith collected by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Messenger of Allah said, Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and expectation… meaning, believing that Allah commanded the fast, all the while awaiting His reward for fasting it.

Allah’s statement,

(is that of a garden on a Rabwah) means, the example of a garden on `a height above the ground’, as the majority of scholars have stated. Ibn `Abbas and Ad-Dahhak added that it also has flowing rivers.

Allah’s statement,

(Wabil falls on it) means, heavy rain as we stated, So it produces its,

(yield of harvest) meaning, fruits or produce,

(doubles), as compared to other gardens.

(And if it does not receive Wabil, a Tall suffices it.)

Ad-Dahhak said that the `Tall’ is light rain. The Ayah indicates that the garden on the Rabwah is always fertile, for if heavy rain does not fall on it, light rain will suffice for it. Such is the case regarding the believer’s good deeds, for they never become barren. Rather, Allah accepts the believer’s righteous deeds and increases them, each according to his deeds. This is why Allah said next,

(And Allah is All-Seer of what you do) meaning, none of His servants’ deeds ever escapes His perfect watch.