Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned the following:
In the Quraan Majeed, the example of those who spend in the path of Allah Ta‘ala is compared with the example of a person who sows a single seed from which seven hundred grains are harvested. Allah Ta‘ala mentions:
مَثَلُ الَّذِیۡنَ یُنۡفِقُوۡنَ اَمۡوَالَهمۡ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰه کَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ اَنۡۢبَتَتۡ سَبۡعَ سَنَابِلَ فِیۡ کُلِّ سُنۡۢبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ یُضٰعِفُ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِیۡمٌ
The example of those who spend their wealth in the path of Allah is like a seed (of grain which is sowed into the ground) which grows seven ears; in each ear is one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies (His reward) for whomsoever He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and all-Knowing. (Surah Baqarah v. 261)
It should be borne in mind that the example explained in this verse is merely to illustrate the abundant barakah that one will acquire in one’s life through spending wealth in the cause of Deen. However, this verse does not reflect the full reward that one will receive for the good deed. Rather, the full reward that one will receive in the Hereafter (is beyond comprehension and) is explained in the next verse:
اَلَّذِیۡنَ یُنۡفِقُوۡنَ اَمۡوَالَهُمۡ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰهِ ثُمَّ لَا یُتۡبِعُوۡنَ مَاۤ اَنۡفَقُوۡا مَنًّا وَّ لَاۤ اَذًی ۙ لَّهُمۡ اَجۡرُهُمۡ عِنۡدَ رَبِّهِمۡ ۚ وَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَیۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ یَحۡزَنُوۡنَ
Those who spend their wealth in the path of Allah, then do not follow their spending through giving reminders of their favours, or with causing pain– they have their reward with their Rabb and there is no fear for them nor shall they grieve. (Surah Baqarah v. 262)
In this verse, the words
لَهُمۡ اَجۡرُهُمۡ عِنۡدَ رَبِّهِمۡ
(they have their reward with their Rabb)
refers to the actual and full reward for the good they did which they will receive in the Aakhirah after leaving this world.
(Malfoozaat Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 76)
Source: Ihyaauddeen.co.za