Goodly Loan
قَرْض حَسَن
In Islamic tradition, the concept of a 'Goodly Loan' (قَرْض حَسَن) describes an act of giving, whether financial or through one's effort, that is extended purely for the sake of Allah, without any expectation of worldly return or personal gain. It embodies selfless charity and a deep trust in divine recompense. The Quran beautifully presents this act as if one is lending to Allah Himself, Who then promises to return it manifold. [Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over?] This isn't a literal loan to God, but a metaphorical elevation of human generosity, signifying that whatever is given with a pure intention for His pleasure is not lost but eternally rewarded. The rewards promised for such a loan are immense, including not only a multiplication of blessings but also [forgiveness of sins] and [a noble reward] in the Hereafter. As part of a covenant, Allah also promised to [remove your misdeeds and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow] for those who give a goodly loan alongside other good deeds. This concept encourages Muslims to engage in profound acts of kindness, support, and contribution to society, knowing that their selflessness is deeply cherished and abundantly rewarded by the Divine.
Quran 5 verses
مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥٓ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً وَٱللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Man zal lazee yuqridul laaha qardan hasanan fayudaa 'ifahoo lahoo ad'aafan kaseerah; wallaahu yaqbidu wa yabsut-u wa ilaihi turja'oon
Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned.
کوئی ہے کہ خدا کو قرض حسنہ دے کہ وہ اس کے بدلے اس کو کئی حصے زیادہ دے گا۔ اور خدا ہی روزی کو تنگ کرتا اور (وہی اسے) کشادہ کرتا ہے۔ اور تم اسی کی طرف لوٹ کر جاؤ گے
Commentary
وَلَقَدْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَبَعَثْنَا مِنْهُمُ ٱثْنَىْ عَشَرَ نَقِيبًا وَقَالَ ٱللَّهُ إِنِّى مَعَكُمْ لَئِنْ أَقَمْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَيْتُمُ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَءَامَنتُم بِرُسُلِى وَعَزَّرْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَقْرَضْتُمُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا لَّأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّكُمْ جَنَّٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ فَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ
Wa laqad akhazal laahu meesaaqa Banee Israaa'eela wa ba'sanaa minhumus ani 'ashara naqeebanw wa qaalal laahu innee ma'akum la'in aqamtumus Salaata wa aataitumuz Zakaata wa aamantum bi Rusulee wa'azzartumoohum wa aqradtumul laaha qardan hasanal la ukaffiranna 'ankum saiyiaatikum wa la udkhilan nakum Jannaatin tajree min tahtihal anhaar; faman kafara ba'da zaalika minkum faqad dalla sawaaa'as Sabeel
And Allah had already taken a covenant from the Children of Israel, and We delegated from among them twelve leaders. And Allah said, "I am with you. If you establish prayer and give zakah and believe in My messengers and support them and loan Allah a goodly loan, I will surely remove from you your misdeeds and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow. But whoever of you disbelieves after that has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way."
اور خدا نے بنی اسرائیل سے اقرار لیا اور ان میں ہم نے بارہ سردار مقرر کئے پھر خدا نے فرمایا کہ میں تمہارے ساتھ ہوں اگر تم نماز پڑھتے اور زکوٰة دیتے رہو گے اور میرے پیغمبروں پر ایمان لاؤ گے اور ان کی مدد کرو گے اور خدا کو قرض حسنہ دو گے تو میں تم سے تمہارے گناہ دور کر دوں گا اور تم کو بہشتوں میں داخل کروں گا جن کے نیچے نہریں بہہ رہی ہیں پھر جس نے اس کے بعد تم میں سے کفر کیا وہ سیدھے رستے سے بھٹک گیا
Commentary
مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥ وَلَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ
man zal lazee yuqridul laaha qardan hasanan fa yudaa'ifahoo lahoo wa lahooo ajrun kareem
Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He will multiply it for him and he will have a noble reward?
کون ہے جو خدا کو (نیت) نیک (اور خلوص سے) قرض دے تو وہ اس کو اس سے دگنا کرے اور اس کے لئے عزت کا صلہ (یعنی جنت) ہے
Commentary
إِنَّ ٱلْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُصَّدِّقَٰتِ وَأَقْرَضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَٰعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ
Innal mussaddiqeena wal mussaddiqaati wa aqradul laaha qardan hassanany yudaa'afu lahum wa lahum ajrun kareem
Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.
جو لوگ خیرات کرنے والے ہیں مرد بھی اور عورتیں بھی۔ اور خدا کو (نیت) نیک (اور خلوص سے) قرض دیتے ہیں ان کو دوچند ادا کیا جائے گا اور ان کے لئے عزت کا صلہ ہے
Commentary
إِن تُقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَٰعِفْهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ شَكُورٌ حَلِيمٌ
In tuqridul laaha qardan hasanany yudd'ifhu lakum wa yaghfir lakum; wallaahu Shakoorun Haleem
If you loan Allah a goodly loan, He will multiply it for you and forgive you. And Allah is Most Appreciative and Forbearing.
اگر تم خدا کو (اخلاص اور نیت) نیک (سے) قرض دو گے تو وہ تم کو اس کا دوچند دے گا اور تمہارے گناہ بھی معاف کردے گا۔ اور خدا قدر شناس اور بردبار ہے
Commentary
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