Does the translation of "rabwah" in Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 265, necessarily mean "a garden on high ground that yields double the produce of others," and is there a consensus on Ibn Abbas's interpretation of it as "a raised place on the earth, which is the best place for plants"? And why was a high place specifically mentioned when there are other fertile places, and does the description of a "rabwah" apply to a fertile low-lying place? And has science proven the superiority of fertile elevated places, and where are these places found, and what about the effect of elevation on drought?
The exegetes differed regarding the meaning of the word "rabwah" (ربوة) in Al-Baqarah, verse 265, holding two views: The first, which is the view of the majority, holds that "rabwah" means an elevated place on the earth. They base this on the linguistic meaning and the sayings of the predecessors, noting that elevated places tend to yield better and more abundant fruits. The second view holds that "rabwah" means a flat, easy, fertile piece of land, regardless of its elevation or depression, and relies on the land's fertility and its ability to grow when rain falls. It is possible to reconcile between the two views by understanding that a "rabwah" is a fertile, elevated place that combines the elements of growth. The purpose of the parable is to illustrate God's multiplication of the reward for those who spend (in charity) and His compensation to them.
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Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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