Hadith #8466

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states, "مَنْ تَفاقَرَ اِفْتَقَرَ۔" This can be translated as,

One who pretends to be poor, becomes poor.

Let us now delve into the deeper meaning of this Hadith in light of the Quran.

The word (tafaqura) "تَفَاقُرَ" in the Hadith refers to pretending or feigning poverty. It implies the act of intentionally portraying oneself as destitute or lacking in wealth, while in reality, one possesses sufficient resources. The word (iftaqara) "اِفْتَقَرَ" means to actually become poor or to experience a state of poverty.

To understand the significance of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns against hypocrisy and insincerity in various verses. In Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah says, (Quran 2:8-9)

And of the people are some who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day,' but they are not believers. They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.

This verse highlights the danger of pretending to be something one is not. Those who claim to have faith but lack sincerity are ultimately deceiving themselves. Similarly, in Surah Al-Munafiqun, Allah says, (Quran 63:7)

They are the ones who say, 'Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah until they disband.' And to Allah belongs the depositories of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand.

Here, Allah exposes the hypocrisy of those who withhold their support from the Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions, under the pretense of poverty. They fail to comprehend that it is Allah who possesses the treasures of the heavens and the earth, and He is the ultimate provider.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith warns against the consequences of feigning poverty. When someone pretends to be poor, they are essentially engaging in deception and dishonesty. This behavior goes against the principles of Islam, which emphasize truthfulness and sincerity.

Moreover, the Hadith highlights the spiritual and material consequences of such pretense. By pretending to be poor, one may attract sympathy and receive financial assistance from others. However, this temporary gain comes at the cost of losing the blessings and barakah (divine blessings) that come with genuine gratitude and contentment.

Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) encourages us to be grateful for the blessings He has bestowed upon us. In Surah An-Nahl, Allah says, (Quran 14:7)

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.'

When we pretend to be poor, we are essentially denying the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon us. We fail to acknowledge His favors and instead seek validation and assistance from others through deception. This not only leads to material poverty but also hampers our spiritual growth and distances us from the path of righteousness.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a reminder to Muslims about the dangers of pretending to be poor. It warns against the consequences of deception and insincerity, both in this world and the hereafter. Instead, we should strive to be grateful for the blessings Allah has bestowed upon us and seek His assistance through sincere supplication and reliance on Him alone. May Allah guide us to the straight path and protect us from the pitfalls of hypocrisy.