HYPOCRISY (MUNAFIQ) AND CHARITY (INFAQ)

Learning the Language of the Qur’an – Fun Series 1

As we know, these two words have different meanings. Munafiq refers to a person who pretends to have faith or goodness, while infaq means spending one’s wealth in the way of Allah for goodness.

But did you know that the words Munafiq and Infaq come from the same root, NA–FA–QO, which means a tunnel? Then why do they carry different and even contradictory meanings?

Let us use our reason. A tunnel has two openings: an entrance and an exit. A hypocrite plays between these two openings, sometimes entering from the right and exiting from the left, and sometimes entering from the left and exiting from the right. A hypocrite plays on both sides. What does he play with? Of course, his attitude, behavior, and conduct.

In contrast, infaq involves putting something into one opening and letting it come out through the other in the form of goodness. What is put in? Certainly material things—money, food supplies, and other forms of assistance.

ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقُونَ وَٱلۡمُنَٰفِقَٰتُ بَعۡضُهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡضٖۚ يَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَيَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَيَقۡبِضُونَ أَيۡدِيَهُمۡۚ نَسُواْ ٱللَّهَ فَنَسِيَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَٰسِقُونَ

“The hypocrite men and the hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and withhold their hands. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them. Indeed, the hypocrites, it is they who are defiantly disobedient.” (QS. At-Tawbah: 67)

وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنۡ خَيۡرٖ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمۡۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ٱبۡتِغَآءَ وَجۡهِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنۡ خَيۡرٖ يُوَفَّ إِلَيۡكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تُظۡلَمُونَ

“And whatever good you spend is for yourselves, and you do not spend except seeking the pleasure (Face) of Allah. And whatever good you spend will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 272)

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