Arabic Polysemous Words used in the Qur’ān; A Study of the Word nafaqa

| ABSTRACT The Qur’ān is a marvellous book which contains various miraculous signs. Amongst its miracle is the use of polysemous words in the Book. An interpreter of the Qur’ān who does not acquaint himself with the proper use of Arabic words will mislead not only himself but others following such interpretation. The exegesis of the Book requires advanced knowledge of the Arabic Language and its branches to grasp the deep meanings of the Qur’ān. This article focuses on nafaqa mentioned in one hundred and seven (107) places in the Qur’ān as a case study of the polysemous nature of the Qur’ān and how it is being used in diffe rent ways as nouns, verbs or adjectives. As such, only expert exegetes can understand how these words are being used without misinterpreting the Qur’ān.


Introduction
Understanding the interpretation of the Qur'ān without deep knowledge of the Arabic Language and its various branches is impossible. Sambo (2014) explained that many critics misinterpret verses of the Qur'ān out of ignorance or in a deliberate attempt to distort the real message being conveyed in the Qur'ān at the expense of listeners and readers as well as the general populace. It has also led some exegetes to interpret the Qur'ān based on their personal bias, without any reservation for whether what they are saying is correct or in line with the literal and technical meanings of the Book.
The Arabic Language is the language of the Qur'ān, and as such needs to be studied extensively so as to be able to grasp the true meanings of the Book.  reported that the language is a very vast one, and its words can be used in several ways. A single sentence may be interpreted in several ways, either in the Qur'ān, Hadith or any other Arabic text. Among the conditions to be fulfilled by a Qur'ānic exegete is having sufficient knowledge of classical Arabic, its grammatical constructions and its figures of speech. Other branches of Arabic Language, such as syntax, morphology, derivation, rhetoric and so on, are equally important.
Furthermore, adequate knowledge of these branches is not enough; as stated by Philips (1997), a good interpreter should also be familiar with Islamic sciences that are connected to the Qur'ān such as Hadith and its sciences, fundamental principles of Fiqh (Jurisprudence) and so on.  explained that many Arabic words in the Qur'ān are polysemous words as they often come from a single root and then expand to give different meanings.
Therefore, without this aforementioned knowledge, there is no way an exegete can be free from misinterpretations of the Qur'ān. Thus, this article focuses on the word nafaqa as an Arabic polysemous word used in the Qur'ān in different ways with differing meanings.
And his wealth was destroyed, so he began to wring his hands for what he had spent on it, while it lay, having fallen down upon its roofs, and he said: Ah me! Would that I had not associated anyone with my Lord.

Comment:
The word is used here as a masculine singular past perfect verb.

Q57:10
And what reason have you that you should not spend in Allah´s way? And Allah´s is the inheritance of the heavens and the earth, not alike among you are those who spent before the victory and fought (and those who did not): they are more exalted in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards, and Allah has promised good to all, and Allah is Aware of what you do.

Comment:
The word is used three times in this verse: Firstly, as a masculine/feminine plural present verb, Secondly, as a masculine/feminine plural past verb, Thirdly, as a masculine/feminine plural past verb.

Q8:63
And united their hearts; had you spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah united them; surely He is Mighty, Wise.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine singular past perfect verb.

Q2:215
They ask you as to what they should spend. Say: Whatever wealth you spend, it is for the parents and the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, and whatever good you do, Allah surely knows it.

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Comment: The word is mentioned here twice: Firstly, as a masculine/feminine plural present verb, Secondly, as an apodosis or answer.

Q2:270
And whatever alms you give or (whatever) vow you vow, surely Allah knows it, and the unjust shall have no helpers.

Comment:
The word is mentioned here twice: Firstly, as a masculine/feminine plural present verb, Secondly, as a noun.

Q34:39
Say: Surely my Lord amplifies the means of subsistence for whom He pleases of His servants and straitens (them) for whom (He pleases), and whatever thing you spend, He exceeds it in reward, and He is the best of Sustainers.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine/feminine plural present verb.

Q60:10
O you who believe! When believing women come to you flying, then examine them; Allah knows best their faith; then if you find them to be believing women, do not send them back to the unbelievers; neither are these (women) lawful for them, nor are those (men) lawful for them, and give them what they have spent; and no blame attaches to you in marrying them when you give them their dowries and hold not to the ties of marriage of unbelieving women, and ask for what you have spent, and then ask for what they have spent. That is Allah´s judgment; He judges between you, and Allah is Knowing Wise.

Comment:
The word is used thrice, all as a masculine/feminine plural past perfect verb.

Q2:262
(As for) those who spend their property in the way of Allah, then do not follow up what they have spent with reproach or injury, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.

Comment:
The word is used twice: Firstly, as a masculine/feminine plural present verb, Secondly, as a masculine/feminine plural past verb.

Q2:267
O you who believe! spend (benevolently) of the good things that you earn and or what We have brought forth for you out of the earth, and do not aim at what is bad that you may spend (in alms) of it, while you would not take it yourselves unless you have its price lowered, and know that Allah is Self-sufficient, Praiseworthy.

Comment:
The word is used twice: Firstly, as a masculine/feminine plural imperative verb, Secondly, as a masculine/feminine plural present verb.

Q2:272
To make them walk in the right way is not incumbent on you, but Allah guides aright whom He pleases; and whatever good thing you spend, it is to your own good; and you do not spend but to seek Allah´s pleasure, and whatever good things you spend shall be paid back to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.

Comment:
The word is used thrice here as masculine/feminine plural present verb.

Q4:34
Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine plural present verb.

Q4:39
And what (harm) would it have done them if they had believed in Allah and the last day and spent (benevolently) of what Allah had given them? And Allah knows them.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine/feminine plural past verb.

Q25:67
And they who when they spend, are neither extravagant nor parsimonious, and (keep) between these the just mean.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine/feminine plural present verb.

Q35:29
Surely they who recite the Book of Allah and keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them secretly and openly, hope for a gain which will not perish.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine/feminine plural present verb.

Q57:7
Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and spend out of what He has made you to be successors of; for those of you who believe and spent shall have a great reward.

Comment:
The word is used twice: Firstly, as a masculine/feminine plural imperative verb, Secondly, as a masculine/feminine plural past verb.

Q60:11
And if anything (out of the dowries) of your wives has passed away from you to the unbelievers, then your turn comes, give to those whose wives have gone away the like of what they have spent, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah in Whom you believe.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine plural perfect participle.

Q2:273
(Alms are) for the poor who are confined in the way of Allah--they cannot go about in the land; the ignorant man thinks them to be rich on account of (their) abstaining (from begging); you can recognise them by their mark; they do not beg from men importunately; and whatever good thing you spend, surely Allah knows it.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine/feminine plural present verb.

Q3:92
By no means shall you attain to righteousness until you spend (benevolently) out of what you love; and whatever thing you spend, Allah surely knows it.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine/feminine plural present verb.

Q8:60
And prepare against them what force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them, whom you do not know (but) Allah knows them; and whatever thing you will spend in Allah´s way, it will be paid back to you fully and you shall not be dealt with unjustly.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine/feminine plural present verb.

Q47:38
Behold! you are those who are called upon to spend in Allah´s way, but among you are those who are niggardly, and whoever is niggardly is niggardly against his own soul; and Allah is Self-sufficient and you have need (of Him), and if you turn back He will bring in your place another people, then they will not be like you.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine/feminine plural present verb.

Q63:7
They it is who say: Do not spend upon those who are with the Messenger of Allah until they break up. And Allah´s are the treasures of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand.

Comment:
The word is used twice: Firstly, as a masculine/feminine plural prohibitive verb, Secondly, as a masculine/feminine plural noun.

Q2:267
O you who believe! spend (benevolently) of the good things that you earn and or what We have brought forth for you out of the earth, and do not aim at what is bad that you may spend (in alms) of it, while you would not take it yourselves unless you have its price lowered, and know that Allah is Self-sufficient, Praiseworthy.

Comment:
The word is used twice: Firstly, as a masculine/feminine plural imperative verb, Secondly, as a masculine/feminine plural present verb 23. Q2:264 O you who believe! do not make your charity worthless by reproach and injury, like him who spends his property to be seen of men and does not believe in Allah and the last day; so his parable is as the parable of a smooth rock with earth upon it, then a heavy rain falls upon it, so it leaves it bare; they shall not be able to gain anything of what they have earned; and Allah does not guide the unbelieving people.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine singular present verb.

Q5:64
And the Jews say: The hand of Allah is tied up! Their hands shall be shackled, and they shall be cursed for what they say. Nay, both His hands are spread out, He expends as He pleases, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord will certainly make many of them increase in inordinacy and unbelief; and We have put enmity and hatred among them till the day of resurrection; whenever they kindle a fire for war Allah puts it out, and they strive to make mischief in the land; and Allah does not love the mischiefmakers.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine singular present verb.

Q9:98
And of the dwellers of the desert are those who take what they spend to be a fine, and they wait (the befalling of) calamities to you; on them (will be) the evil calamity; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine/feminine plural present verb.

Q9:99
And of the dwellers of the desert are those who believe in Allah and the latter day and take what they spend to be (means of) the nearness of Allah and the Messenger´s prayers; surely it shall be means of nearness for them; Allah will make them enter into His mercy; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Comment:
The word is used as a masculine/feminine plural present verb. example, a slight misuse of any Arabic word, especially in the exegesis, may lead to social unrest. It is capable of misleading a lot of people.
The many illustrations of the lexical item used as an example here have shown that the translation of the word also added to the various interpretation of the word. This has equally demonstrated the effects of the polysemy nature of the word in particular. It indicates that the word 'Nafaqah', as used here in different meanings, emphasizes the usefulness of the study of Arabic semantics with particular reference to polysemy.
In its unique nature, this work demonstrated the various meanings of the word 'Nafaqah', as could be found in a good number of Quranic verses for different contexts. It is mentioned therein that these various interpretations based on contextual usages are not limited to the Quran but also could be found in any other Arabic usage. All this is encapsulated in this article.
It is pertinent to mention here that this work which examined the polysemy of the word Nafaqah as used in various places in the Quran, is limited to this word alone. Further studies could be carried out on some other related words and lexical items that may require study for a thorough understanding not only of the Quranic exegesis but also of other Arabic literary enterprises.

Recommendations
The discussions above revealed the role of the Arabic language in discerning the meanings of polysemous words like nafaqa used in the Qur'ān. It is unparalleled to other languages with respect to Qur'ānic exegesis, as the Qur'ān was revealed in it. Hence, these modest recommendations: Teaching the rudiments of the Arabic language from scratch, especially to children from the pre-primary school level, is thus imperative, as this will lay the proper foundation for a better understanding of the language in them. This can also pave the way for new paths aside from religious obligation, as the Arabic language is one of the most recognized languages in the world.
Further research on the polysemy of some other related lexical items in Arabic could be pursued. This will further espouse the numerous Arabic words of polysemy not only for Quranic exegesis but also for other Arabic literary enterprises.
In a nutshell,  opines that the Arabic language is the language of the Qur'ān, facilitates its meanings and interpretations, as such, should not be overlooked by exegetes. In the same way, Arabic literati should explore other areas of Arabic language which are relevant to the study of socio-linguistics and semantics.
Funding: This research received no external funding.