The Story of Abu Dahdah: The Companion of the Prophet Who Gave a Loan to Allah SWT

 

The Story of Abu Dahdah: The Companion of the Prophet Who Gave a Loan to Allah SWT

Once Abu Dahdah heard that a verse had been revealed which explained that if a person lends Allah a good loan, Allah will repay him with a double reward. More precisely the verse in question is the letter al-Baqarah verse 245:

مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً

"Whoever lends to God with a good loan, God will multiply his reward in abundance." (Al-Baqarah: 245)

Hearing the news, Abu Dahdah rushed to the Messenger of Allah for clarification and asked about the truth of the verse:

"Is it true, O Messenger of Allah, that God wants to ask for a loan from us?"

"Very true, O Abu Dahdah" replied the Messenger of Allah.

He was even more excited after hearing the Apostle's answer.

"Then if that's the case, please extend your hands, O Messenger of Allah," Abu Dahdah then held the noble hand of the Messenger of Allah tightly and said:

"Truly I will give my date garden as a loan for (religion) Allah, there are 600 productive date trees," Abu Dahdah was not joking with his speech. The Prophet was very appreciative of what Abu Dahdah said.

Abu Dahdah then rushed excitedly to the date palm garden and called his wife and child who also lived there.

"O my wife, come out!" Call Abu Dahdah

The wife came out

"I have lent the entire contents of this garden to Allah," he continued explaining

He immediately took out all his belongings. All the furniture and belongings he moved to another place. He really gave up all the contents of the date palm garden to the Messenger of Allah. The wife immediately knew what her husband meant. He was also willing to give all the property he had for the sake of Allah's Religion.

"May God bless you for what you have given, my husband" Said the wife to Abu Dahdah

Seeing this, the Prophet was very amazed and appreciated the sincerity and totality of his sacrifice. Until he praised Abu Dahdah:

كَمْ مِنْ عِذْقٍ رَدَاحٍ لِأَبِي الدَّحْدَاحِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ

Meaning: "How many bunches full of dates Abu Dahdah's in heaven"

Rasulullah SAW. hinting that something that Abu Dahdah had done was not in vain. Although at a glance, Abu Dahdah has lost his hectare of date palm land, but God responded with a far more worthy and abundant reward in heaven, as the Prophet said. And that proves that basically God does not play around with the promise that God has made in the verse above. Even God also responded with a much multiplied response; Adz'aafan katsirah.

Why with Editor Borrow?

Some of us will ask, why did Allah choose to use a borrowed editorial in the verse? Isn't it enough for example by offering " Whoever spends in the way of Allah, then Allah will repay with a lot of rewards ". But why instead use borrowed editors, this is something that is impossible for God to do.

Of course the conclusion is not that simple. Behind the verse there must be a purpose and wisdom of its own that will not be known if you do not try to understand the meaning of the verse.

Starting from the skeptical question, the Jews in the past when they heard this verse always underestimated the Muslims and Allah. They joked:

ان الله فقير ونحن أغنياء, فهو يطلب منا القرض

"Surely God is poor, while we (Jews) are the rich, that's the proof that God still needs a loan from us," they belittled.

According to Imam Fakhruddin al-Razi in his commentary, the editorial (qardh; borrowing/debt) in the verse is only majaz/figurative. This is because it is based on three things. First , usually debts or loans are only made by people who really need it and this is certainly very impossible for the Essence of Allah. Second, in general, the repayment of the debt is equal to the value borrowed. However, in this verse Allah will multiply the reward. So it is more accurate to say that it is not a reply, but is an extraordinary gift. Third,all possessions owned by humans basically belong to God. Then how is it possible that God borrows property that is actually His own.

Therefore, the meaning and wisdom of the verse is for people to truly believe in the reward for the almsgiving. This verse is a form of God's affirmation of His decree. All the possessions that have been used to fight in the way of God will surely have a reward. As with debt, the debtor is obligated to pay the debt. Then God will surely repay those infaqs.

,والحكمة فيه على أنّ ذلك لا يضيع عند الله, فكما أنّ القرض يجب أداءه ولا يجوز الإخلال به فكذا الثواب الواجب على هذا الإنفاق واصل الى المكلف لا محالة

“The lesson from the above verse is that Allah will not waste anything that has been allocated to fight in the way of Allah. As a debt that must be fulfilled and cannot be denied. Likewise, the reward for the infaq-infaq of Allah's religion will definitely reach that person”