And the semblance of those who spend their wealth seeking God's pleasure while they in their own minds are sure and certain that God will reward them, is like a garden on a height; heavy rain falls on it and it doubles its yield of harvest. And if it does not receive heavy rain, light shower suffices it. Allah is fully cognizant of whatever you do. (2:265)

Commentary:

Let us analyze each of the symbols used in this parable:

Garden, the example of garden is used in many passages in the Quran. This is used as a symbol of human endeavor and its result on the person's life. Whatever efforts a person does, is to improve one's own garden. Good deeds bring prosperity, happiness and plenty to the garden and bad deeds ruin the garden. A prosperous garden means a good life, which is promised to a believer [ii]. And a ruined garden is promised to those who do evil deeds [iii].

Heavy rain or light showers are symbols of God's benevolence in varying degrees. The resources God has provided us in the form of intelligence, intellects, wealth, relationships, peace and health are the benevolence of God.

Moral of this parable is that if a person spends, his or her wealth, with certain faith to seek the pleasure of God, he or she will have a good life, regardless of the quantity of resources God has provided.

Notes & References

----------------------------------------------------------------------[i] A parable is a narrative of imagined events used to illustrate or convey a moral or spiritual lesson. Quran uses parables to convey its message. Quran says "And these similitude we put forward for humankind, but none will understand them except those who have knowledge" (29:43)

[ii] 16:97 Whoever works righteousness, whether male of female, while he is a true believer, verily, to him or her we will give a good life and we shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do

[iii] 68:17-33