Page 40 - The Hypocrite According to the Qur'an

THE HYPOCRITE ACCORDING TO THE QUR’AN

viators.” Nothing prevents what they give from being
accepted from them but the fact that they have re-
jected Allah and His Messenger, and that they only
come to prayer lethargically, and that they only give
reluctantly. (Surat at-Tawba, 53-54)
From these verses, we learn that hypocrites perform their
acts of worship “reluctantly.” This is another reason for the
persistent distress hypocrites feel. All the acts in which they
engage are of no avail, for they perform them simply to im-
press others. Furthermore, when Allah wills, He exposes the
true character of these insincere people, to invalidate their ac-
tions in this world. Therefore, hypocrites also ultimately fail to
attain their desired goal: other people’s approval.
In another verse, Allah provides the following example, to
explain the invalidity of the acts of worship performed by
those who spend for show, and His blessings upon those who
spend for His good pleasure:
You who believe! Do not nullify your charity by de-
mands for gratitude or insulting words, like him who
spends his wealth, showing off to people and not be-
lieving in Allah and the Last Day. His likeness is that
of a smooth rock coated with soil, which, when heavy
rain falls on it, is left stripped bare. They have no
power over anything they have earned. Allah does
not guide disbelieving people. The metaphor of
those who spend their wealth, desiring the pleasure
of Allah and firmness for themselves, is that of a gar-
den on a hillside. When heavy rain falls on it, it dou-
bles its produce; and if heavy rain does not fall, there
is dew. Allah sees what you do. (Surat al-Baqara, 264-
265)
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