“When the Hypocrites come to you, they say: 'We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.' Yea Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger and Allah bears witness that the Hypocrites are indeed liars.” (Qur'an 63 Verses 1)
We are usually concerned about the believer and the unbelievers. But there is a third group. The hypocrites. The Prophet said, "Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of them will have one characteristic of hypocrisy until he gives it up: one, whenever he is entrusted, he betrays; two, whenever he speaks, he tells a lie; three, whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous; and finally, whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner." (Bukhari)
The complete hypocrites are difficult to identify. He may come as a scholar or learned person, with beard, quoting fluent Arabic and his presentation is good.
Allah confirms this: "When you look at them their exteriors (appearances) please you; and when they speak, you listen to their words..." (Qur'an 63 Verse 4).
But indeed they are nothing and their words are nothing "…they are as (worthless as hollow) pieces of timber propped up (but unable to stand on their own)." (Qur'an 63 Verse 4)
All they seek is to undermine Islam, or its unity, so their tactics is to make "… their oaths a screen (for their misdeeds): thus they obstruct (men) from the Path of Allah: truly evil are their deeds." (Qur'an 63 Verse 2)
Hypocrisy means having a double face. Some people said to Ibn 'Umar, "When we are in the presence of our rulers we say their praise which is contrary to what we say when we leave them." Ibn 'Umar said, "We used to consider this as hypocrisy." (Bukhari Vol.9 #289)
Hence they have a face with Islam and another against it. Further, their salaah is for show off. Their salaah in public is different from their salaah in private. "Lo! The hypocrites seek to beguile (deceive) Allah, but it is Allah who beguiles them. When they stand up to worship they perform it languidly and to be seen of men, and are mindful of Allah but little; swaying between this (and that), (belonging) neither to these nor to those. …" (Qur'an 4 Verses 142-143)Some other types of hypocrites refer to Muslims who appear to always put Islam before all else as fools and extremists.
"Lo! the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease say: 'these people--their religion has misled them'." (Qur'an 8 Verse 49) They are not satisfied with position, so they mock and dishonour Islam to get honour from their friends.
"Yea to those who take for friends unbelievers rather than believers: is it honour they seek among them? Nay all honour is with Allah. Already has He sent you word in the Book that when you hear the signs of Allah held in defiance and ridicule you are not to sit with them unless they turn to a different theme: if you did you would be like them. For Allah will collect the Hypocrites and those who defy faith all in hell." (Qur'an 4 Verses 138-140)This group of hypocrites is opposed to everything Islam. They seek to contradict it and Shaytan is their guide. Allah captures their efforts thus, "the hypocrites, men and women…enjoin the wrong, and they forbid the right, and they withhold their hands (from spending for the cause of Allah). They forget Allah, so He has forgotten them. Lo! the hypocrites, they are the transgressors…." (Qur'an 9 Verses 67-68)
We shall not be cowed by their strength, affluence and efforts, we shall not be conquered by their 'da'wah of negativity', Allah urges us, "and incline not to the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Disregard their noxious talk, and put your trust in Allah. Allah is sufficient as Trustee." (Qur'an 33 Verse 48)
Their abode is not only Hell (Qur'an 9 verse 73), but "the lowest deep of the fire, and you will find no helper for them; save those who repent and amend and hold fast to Allah and make their religion pure for Allah (only). Those are with the believers. And Allah will bestow on the believers an immense reward." (Qur'an 4 verses 145-146)
Do you think you have been described in these paragraphs? Beware, the Prophet said, during the last days, a man will go to bed as a believer and will wake up (in the morning) as a disbeliever. Mind the gap! Take care of your deen.
