Page 39 - The Hypocrite According to the Qur'an

They Aim To Deceive The Believers

in their own minds—earn the esteem of the believers. Their sole
purpose is to gain prestige among others. However, all ought to
remember that, because hypocrites lack sincerity, and fail to ob-
serve Allah’s good pleasure, their repayment in the Hereafter
may not be as expected. In many verses of the Qur’an, Allah
states those who expend much effort to the point of exhaustion,
yet whose efforts, or in other words, acts of worship, are of no
avail. For this reason, those so reprehensible in morality should
avoid such a pitiful end.

They Spend in Charity For Show
Another act of worship hypocrites perform for show is the
giving of charity. Spending wealth (in the way of Allah) refers to
all kinds of spending and types of donations made for Allah’s
cause, and to earn His good pleasure. While believers spend their
wealth for Allah’s good pleasure, hypocrites perform the act of
worship for people’s esteem. In the Qur’an, Allah reveals the
hypocrites’ intentions as follows:
… and also for those who spend their wealth to show
off to people, not having faith in Allah and the Last
Day. Anyone who has made Satan his comrade, what
an evil comrade he is! What harm would it have done
them to have had faith in Allah and the Last Day and to
have given of what Allah has provided for them? Allah
knows everything about them. (Surat an-Nisa’, 38-39)
Yet, the Qur’an relates that the charity spent by hypocrites
to win the esteem of others is unacceptable in Allah’s sight:
Say: “Whether you give readily or reluctantly, it will
not be accepted from you. You are people who are de-

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