Allah will always give more than you give

Say, “It is my Lord who determines and increases the sustenance of whomever He wants. He will replace whatever you spend for his cause and He is the best Sustainer.” (Qur’an 34:39)

Rumi beautifully describes a similar sentiment by saying, “If you gave it all away do you think God would be stingy? When you sow seeds the barn is left empty, but the ground is made rich. If you leave the seeds in the barn all you’ll have is a decaying feast for the mice and beetles.” The good deeds we plant in this world do not go to waste, rather they blossom into the eternal realm of the Hereafter. As the Qur’an says, “So whatever thing you are given, that is only a provision of this world's life, and what is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who believe and rely on their Lord.” (42:36)

Allah makes it clear in the Qur’an that, “He will replace whatever you give in alms.” (34:39) Similar to how when farmers prune plants it helps them grow faster, when we give in charity we are energetically pruning our wealth to allow for greater growth. As the Qur’an says, “Who will lend Allah a generous loan so that he may multiply it many times?” (2:245)