Verse 266 of Surah Al-Baqarah addresses the topic of charity and its inherent perils through a profound and eloquent parable. By portraying a lush garden suddenly consumed by the fire of sacrifice, the verse illustrates the consequences of incomplete charity. Utilizing a figurative yet realistic language, it invites the individual to reflect on the value of their deeds and the necessity of safeguarding them from spiritual afflictions such as ostentation and self-display. This treatise, adopting a scientific and systematic approach, analyses this verse and extracts its multifaceted concepts. The structure of this examination encompasses principal sections with specialised subtitles, each focusing on an aspect of the verses meanings and related analyses, emphasising semantic connections and literary richness befitting a specialised audience and academic settings.
أَيَوَدُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ تَكُونَ لَهُ جَنَّةٌ مِنْ نَخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ لَهُ فِيهَا مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ وَأَصَابَهُ الْكِبَرُ وَلَهُ ذُرِّيَّةٌ ضُعَفَاءُ فَأَصَابَهَا إِعْصَارٌ فِيهِ نَارٌ فَاحْتَرَقَتْ ۗ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Does any one of you wish to possess a garden of date-palms and vines beneath which rivers flow, wherein he has every kind of fruit, and he suffers old age while he has feeble offspring, and then a whirlwind containing fire strikes it so that it is burnt? Thus Allah makes His signs clear for you that you may reflect.
Charity, as an altruistic act, is likened in this verse to a flourishing garden, the fruit of human endeavour and investment. Just as the gardener cultivates a fruitful garden of date-palms and vines with great effort, the individual, through charity, secures a spiritual capital for themselves and society. However, if this capital becomes afflicted by spiritual maladies such as ostentation, resentment, and harm, it becomes vulnerable to destructionakin to a garden consumed by the fire of sacrifice.
Ostentation and resentment are metaphorically described as a fire that destroys the garden of charity. Naturally, humans abhor the waste of their efforts, and the verses imagery of a garden flourishing only to be suddenly consumed by fire demonstrates that incomplete charity yields not only no benefit but entails great loss. This interpretation aligns with the religious scholars view that ostentation nullifies deeds.
The Quranic parable in this verse depicts a lush garden composed of date-palms and vines, with rivers flowing beneath. This garden symbolises perfection and abundance that humanity aspires to attain. Date-palms, with their vertical growth, and grapes, with their horizontal spread, create a visual and functional harmony illustrating the coherence and beauty of sincere charity.
Date-palms symbolise complete strength, and grapes represent perfect drink, indicating the gardens self-sufficiency and, by extension, the charity. Dates, as a nourishing food, and grapes, as a refreshing drink, satisfy fundamental human needs. This combination illustrates that sincere charity liberates an individual from material and spiritual deficiencies.
The phrase rivers flow beneath refers to the continuous flow of life and blessing. Flowing rivers symbolise persistence and sustainability, likening sincere charity to a dynamic life source. This imagery underscores the importance of safeguarding charity from afflictions to prevent cessation of its blessings.
The expression and he suffers old age refers to senescence and frailty, which render a person more vulnerable to calamities. At this life stage, the capacity for restoration and recompense diminishes. Accordingly, the verse emphasises the dangers of incomplete charity under such conditions.
The presence of feeble offspring alongside old age imposes an additional burden upon the individual. This imagery portrays the complexity of conditions in which incomplete charity may ensnare a person, particularly when the capacity to rectify loss is limited.
The fiery sacrifice consuming the garden symbolises total destruction that incomplete charity incurs. This image accentuates the severity and swiftness of loss and exhorts the individual to avoid ostentation and self-display.
The word A-yawud in the verse refers to the level of wud (affection), which in practical mysticism ranks below hubb (love) and ishq (passion). These degrees represent varying intensities of love in the human heart. The Quran employs ashad hubban to denote a supreme degree of love, equated with passion.
Religious knowledge, rather than merely focusing on prohibitions, ought to progress towards innovation and creative solutions. The production of items such as pure wine or permissible music can transform religious knowledge into a force for global competition, meeting both spiritual and economic societal needs.
Scientific plagiarism, as a grave harm, undermines the credibility of religious knowledge. Preserving authenticity in knowledge production, akin to protecting charity from ostentation, is essential and requires honesty and trustworthiness.
Lawful wealth, as a key to resolving problems, can serve society. Religious knowledge should promote methods of earning lawful wealth and utilising it for the common good.
Humility, as a distinguished attribute, guides the scholar towards being relatable and connected with society. Religious scholars, emulating the prophets and saints, must eschew pride and ostentation, adopting a humble and grounded demeanor.
Pride and arrogance, especially among scholars and the wealthy, obstruct service to society. The scholar must, with modesty, devote themselves to serving the people and avoid self-display.
Verse 266 of Surah Al-Baqarah, through a profound and eloquent parable, likens charity to a lush garden susceptible to destruction by afflictions such as ostentation and resentment. It invites the individual to reflect on the value of their deeds and the imperative to protect them from spiritual maladies. Concurrently, religious knowledge, by progressing towards innovation and creativity, can assume a central role in elevating societys spiritual and material standing. Humility, as a paramount attribute, directs scholars towards social engagement and service. This treatise, grounded in precise analyses and semantic connections, endeavoured to present the verses concepts in an exalted and scientific language for specialised audiences.