The Quran

إِنَّ المُصَّدِّقينَ وَالمُصَّدِّقاتِ وَأَقرَضُوا اللَّهَ قَرضًا حَسَنًا يُضاعَفُ لَهُم وَلَهُم أَجرٌ كَريمٌ

Ali Unal

Those men and women who give alms (by spending out of their wealth in both the prescribed and supererogatory duties of alms-giving), and lend to God a goodly loan (by spending either in His cause or for the needy), it will be increased manifold to their credit; and they will have an honorable, generous reward in addition.¹

Verse 16 is a warning against the hardening of hearts toward the Divine teachings and God’s Remembrance, and a reminder of the importance of striving in God’s cause. One of the most important reasons of this hardening is growing familiarity with the Revelation and the revealed Divine teachings, and the passage of time after it. Another important reason is committing sins (transgression) through indifference to God’s warnings. So it is necessary to continuously be alert against such a hardening, and always to seek means for the softening of the heart. As pointed out in verses 17 and 18, just as God revives any land after its death with rain, and this is repeated every year, He may also revive dead or dead-like hearts with clear Revelations, provided we remain loyal to God and His Religion by carrying out God’s commands and avoiding transgression, and by spending in His cause.