[The Third Interpretation:]

2433 - Abu Sa'id b. Yahya b. Sa'id al-Qattan narrated to us, Qabisah reported to us, Sufyan reported to us, from Abu Hayyan, from his father, from a sheikh of theirs that when he would hear the questioner say, "Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan?" he would say: "Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the greatest; this is the loan."

His saying, the Almighty: "...so He may multiply it for him many times over."

2434 - Abu Khallad Sulayman b. Khallad al-Mu'addib narrated to us, Yunus b. Muhammad al-Mu'addib reported to us, Muhammad b. 'Uqbah al-Rifa'i reported to us, from Ziyad al-Jassas, from Abu 'Uthman al-Nahdi, from Abu Hurayrah, he said: There was no one who sat with Abu Hurayrah more than I, for he came before me to perform Hajj. He said: And I came after him. Then the people of Basra were reporting from him that he said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say: 'Indeed, Allah multiplies a good deed by one million good deeds.'" I said: "Woe to you! By Allah, no one sat with Abu Hurayrah more than I, and I did not hear this hadith." He said: I set out, wanting to catch up with him. I found that he had already departed for Hajj, so I went to the Hajj to meet him regarding this hadith. I met him regarding this and said: "O Abu Hurayrah, what is this hadith that I heard the people of Basra reporting from you?" He said: "What is it?" I said: "They claim that you say that Allah multiplies a good deed by one million good deeds." He said: "O Abu 'Uthman, why are you surprised by this, while Allah says: 'Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over?' And He says: 'But the enjoyment of worldly life is not compared to the Hereafter except a little.' By Him in whose hand is my soul, I indeed heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say: 'Indeed, Allah multiplies a good deed by two million good deeds.'"

2435 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, Isma'il b. Ibrahim b. Bassam reported to us, Abu Isma'il al-Mu'addib reported to us, from 'Isa b. al-Musayyab, from Nafi', from Ibn 'Umar, he said: When "The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven ears" was revealed, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "My Lord, increase for my nation." Then "Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over" was revealed. He said: "My Lord, increase for my nation." Then "Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account" was revealed.