The reward of Allah is unmeasurable. Allah has made many good deeds for us, acts of worship and kindness towards others, which are easy to do and are greatly rewarded. These deeds might appear small in the sight of people but they can become as heavy as mountains on the scale of good on the Day of Judgement.
Allah says in the Qur’ān, “The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed (of grain) which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies (His reward) for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.” (Quran 2:261)
The ayah is an example of increase in the wealth which is spent in the way of Allah. As from one grain seven ears are grown and every ear has a hundred grains, similarly every good deed will be rewarded seven hundred times. Allah will not see only the quantity or the amount spent in his cause but the intention with which this expenditure was incurred and the circumstances in which it was incurred. The expenditure of the man who incurs it whole-heartedly, with deep, faithful conviction and in difficult circumstances will deserve more reward from Allah than that of the man who spends money half-heartedly and in good circumstances.
It is not difficult at all for Allah, who blesses a grain such as out of it seven hundred grains grow, to allow one’s charity to grow in likely manner so that the unit of money one spends will return seven hundred fold. This statement is followed by a mention of two of Allah’s attributes. First is His generosity, His Hand is not clenched so as to restrain Him from recompensing man for his deeds to the fullest extent that he deserves. Secondly, Allah is All-Knowing, which means that Allah is not unaware of what one spends and the spirit in which one spends, so there is no reason to fear that one will not receive one’s due reward.
This ayah basically motivates people to give more and more charity. It also explains how spending a small amount of wealth in the way of Allah would give multi-fold return. Allah the Generous, in His infinite mercy, will multiply the good deeds of His righteous servants up to seven hundred times as much or even more.
Like a single seed from which springs forth hundreds of grains, Allah will cause the good deeds of His righteous servants to grow and multiply in a similar manner. Abu Hurairah reported, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said, “None gives charity from what is good, for Allah only accepts what is good, but that the Merciful takes it with His right hand. Even if it is a date, it is nurtured in the hand of the Merciful until it becomes greater than a mountain, just as one of you nurtures his young horse or camel.” (Muslim)
In another narration, Ibn Abbas reported, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said, “Verily, Allah has recorded good and bad deeds and He made them clear. Whoever intends to perform a good deed but does not do it, then Allah will record it as a complete good deed. If he intends to do it and does so, then Allah the Exalted will record it as ten good deeds up to seven hundred times as much or even more. If he intends to do a bad deed and does not do it, then Allah will record for him one complete good deed. If he does it then Allah will record for him a single bad deed.” (Bukhari)
Abu Masud reported, a man came with a bridled camel and he said, “This is for the cause of Allah”. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said, “You will have for it seven hundred camels on the Day of Resurrection. Each of them will be bridled.” (Muslim) In another narration, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said, “Every deed of the son of Adam is multiplied from ten to seven hundred times. Allah the Exalted says, except for fasting, for it is done for my sake and I will reward it.” (Muslim)
One might get a lot of reward for his good deeds but should also keep a strong check on his sins, as they might become a big liability on the Day of Judgement. Abu Hurairah reported, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said, “Do you know who is bankrupt?” They said, “The one without money or goods is bankrupt.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said, “Verily, the bankrupt of my nation are those who come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers, fasting, and charity, but also with insults, slander, consuming wealth, shedding blood, and beating others. The oppressed will each be given from his good deeds. If his good deeds run out before justice is fulfilled, then their sins will be cast upon him and he will be thrown into the Hellfire.” (Muslim) Thus, one must strive to perform many good deeds regularly and be careful, not to ruin them with his sins.
The Qur’ān starts with two significant characteristics of Allah, that is, entirely merciful and especially merciful. So, the return which Allah would offer, no individual or business in the world would give us return at the rate of seven hundred per cent. We ought to take advantage of Allah’s mercy in this regard by giving more and more charity in the way of Allah. It might seem to be very ordinary, but its return would be unimaginable. Thus, one should spend more and more of his wealth in the way of Allah, which would act as a great investment, as it would give him very high returns on the Day of Judgement.