Quranic root
نفق
n · f · q
The root centers on going out, passing away, or reaching an exit, alongside concealment and hidden passage.
These orientations develop into meanings of expenditure as something that passes away, a subterranean passage with an outlet, and hypocrisy as concealed departure from what is outwardly professed.
- Maqāyīs · row 4715
- Mufradāt · row 1472
- 8
- Quran-attested forms
- 9
- Quran senses
- 111
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
نَافَقَ
nāfaqa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form III
- Form
- III
- Quran occurrences
- 2 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To act hypocritically: to profess adherence to Islam while concealing another religion or contrary belief.
In Quranic usage, the verb describes religious hypocrisy and concealed opposition behind an outward profession.
- Lane · entry 32347
- Mufradāt · row 1472
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:167word 3
“(are) hypocrites”
Quran 59:11word 5
“(were) hypocrites”
أَنْفَقَ
ʾanfaqa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 68 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To expend or disburse wealth and other resources; to spend or give out, including gifts.
The Quranic verb is used for spending from what one possesses, whether in obligation, charity, support, or other expenditure; grammatical forms include commands, imperfects, and perfects.
- Lane · entry 32348
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Selected Quran examples
إِنْفَاق
ʾinfāq
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Spending, expenditure, or disbursement of wealth and other resources.
The verbal noun denotes the act of expending; it may refer to obligatory or voluntary expenditure and is used with resources generally, especially wealth.
- Lane · entry 32348
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:100word 11
“(of) spending”
Impoverishment through depletion of one's resources.
In the Quranic expression describing fear of الْإِنْفَاقِ, the noun is interpreted as impoverishment or being reduced to want, rather than merely an individual act of spending.
- Mufradāt · row 1472
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:100word 11
“(of) spending”
مُنَافِق
munāfiq
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 32 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A religious hypocrite: one who outwardly professes Islam while concealing another religion or contrary belief.
The public form is normalized to the singular active-participle citation form; the supplied Quran occurrences are masculine and feminine plural inflections.
- Lane · entry 32347
- Mufradāt · row 1472
Selected Quran examples
Quran 63:1word 3
“the hypocrites”
Quran 33:73word 4
“and the hypocrite women”
مُنْفِق
munfiq
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
One who spends or disburses wealth and other resources.
The supplied Quran occurrence is a plural inflection of the active participle; the citation form is normalized to the singular مُنْفِق.
- Lane · entry 32348
- Mufradāt · row 1472
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:17word 4
“and those who spend”
نَفَق
nafaq
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A subterranean passage or tunnel through the earth, with a way out.
The Quranic noun denotes a passable underground route or opening sought as an alternative way through the earth.
- Lane · entry 32350
- Mufradāt · row 1472
Selected Quran examples
Quran 6:35word 10
“a tunnel”
نَفَقَة
nafaqah
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 3 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
An expenditure: something that is spent or disbursed.
The Quranic noun is used for an expenditure or contribution, including expenditure described as small or large and made in different circumstances; the displayed headword also covers the supplied plural form.
- Lane · entry 32351
- Mufradāt · row 1472
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:270word 4
“(your) expenditures”
Quran 9:54word 6
“their contributions”
Quran 9:121word 3
“any spending”
نِفَاق
nifāq
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 3 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Religious hypocrisy: outwardly entering or professing a religion while concealing an opposing inward position.
The Quranic noun describes concealed departure from the professed religious commitment and is closely associated with the hypocrite as a person.
- Lane · entry 32347
- Mufradāt · row 1472
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:77word 2
“(with) hypocrisy”
Quran 9:101word 11
“the hypocrisy”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:3يُنفِقُونَthey spend
- 2:195وَأَنفِقُوا۟And spend
- 2:215يُنفِقُونَ ۖthey (should) spend
- 2:215أَنفَقْتُمyou spend
- 2:219يُنفِقُونَthey (should) spend
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 11 Classical meanings
نَفَقَ
To be brisk in trade; of goods, to be saleable or in demand; of a woman, to be sought in marriage by many.
Used of a market, commodity, or—by an extended conventional application—someone sought in marriage.
- Lane · entry 32346
نَفَقَ
Of a thing, to pass away or be used up; of an animal, to die.
The usage describes disappearance or cessation, including the death of an animal.
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نَفِقَ
Of money, to pass away, be spent, come to an end, or become exhausted.
Used particularly of dirhams or other money that has been depleted.
- Lane · entry 32346
- Mufradāt · row 1472
تَنَفَّفَ
Of a slaughtered camel, to become divided out or distributed.
A rare derived-verb usage describing the apportioning of the slaughtered animal.
- Lane · entry 32349
تَنَفَّقَ
Of a wound, to crack at its sides and form holes or cavities in the flesh.
A rare anatomical description using the image of holes or subterranean excavations.
- Lane · entry 32349
نَفَق
A burrow, hole, or subterranean excavation, especially a hole made by a rat or mouse.
This includes underground cavities or habitations and is distinct from the Quranic use as a traversable passage with an outlet.
- Lane · entry 32350
نَفَق
Fresh olive oil.
A rare lexical use reported for the noun.
- Lane · entry 32350
نَفَقَة
The maintenance or support one expends for oneself and one's family or household.
A conventional domestic-use specialization of expenditure.
- Lane · entry 32351
نَافَقَ
To act hypocritically toward a person or in a relationship, including in matters of affection.
This interpersonal or relational construction is broader than the Quran-attested religious use of the Form III verb.
- Lane · entry 32347
نَافَقَ
Of a jerboa, to use or emerge through its concealed side passage.
A zoological usage associated with the animal's hidden escape route.
- Mufradāt · row 1472
نَيْفَق
The folded and sewn upper part of trousers through which the waistband or drawstring passes.
A clothing term; its etymological status is treated separately from the core root meanings.
- Lane · entry 32352