Warning Against Hypocrisy (1/6)

Hypocrisy is the contradiction of external to the internal and it is of two types:

Major hypocrisy, which withdraws from Islam. And the…

Minor hypocrisy, which does not withdraw from the Religion.

As for the Major hypocrisy, it means the manifestation of Islam and the concealment of infidelity.

Whereas the Minor hypocrisy means to have some hypocritical characters in a servant, which do not withdraw from Religion on its own, such as lying, breach of promise, and betrayal of trust, immorality in violence, and treachery of covenant. These characters have been called hypocrisy because of what it carries of deception and inconsistency between the external and the internal of a person.

The companions of major hypocrisy which withdraw from Religion are of two categories:

The first category: He who does not actually embraced Islam rather; he pretends to be a Muslim deceptively and tries to plot against Islam and its followers, in order to secure himself from being killed, or rebuked by Muslims, while he is internally a disbeliever in Allah and the last day.

Allah (the Exalted) said:

Meaning: "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.” [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 8-9]

And [Allah] (the Exalted) said:

Meaning: "When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muhammad], they say, "We testify that you are the Messenger of Allah." And Allah knows that you are His Messenger, and Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars. They have taken their oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allah. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.” [Surah Al-Munafiqun, 63: 1-2]

The second category: He who apostates after his submission to Islam by committing what violates Islam and withdraws from Religion although he pretends to be Muslim, and among them are those who may be detected with their infidelity and withdrawal from Religion, and among them are those who think they are doing well.

And there is too much of hesitation, waver and doubt in the companions of this category, they carry out some acts of Muslims and they fall into some acts of infidelity and denial.

Allah (the Exalted) said:

Meaning: "Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little.” (142) “Wavering between them, [belonging] neither to these [i.e, the believers] nor to those [i.e, the disbelievers]. And whoever Allah sends astray- never will you find for him a way.” (143). [Surah An-Nisa’, 4: 142-143]

And [Allah] (the Exalted) said:

Meaning: "And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger (Muhammad sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam); and that they came not to As-Salat (the prayer) except in a lazy state; and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly." [Surah At-Tawbah, 9: 54]

Thus, their falling into acts of disbelief in Allah and His Messenger prevents their deeds from being accepted, because Allah (the Exalted) does not accept any deed from an unbeliever.

Furthermore, their laziness in going to prayer and hatred for giving out charity for the sake of Allah is an indication of their disbelief in the promise of Allah and that they are not looking forward to meeting Him.

The reason behind their shortage in remembering Allah is that they remember Allah with their tongues hypocritically and for the sake of riyaa [show off] while their hearts do not love the Religion of Allah (the Exalted).

With that, they are offenders although they are not [exactly] as pagans outwardly and inwardly, and not believers outwardly and inwardly.

Bin Kathir said: And among them is one, who is attacked by doubt, thus at times he inclined to these and at times to those like Allah said: "Whenever it lights [the way] for them, they walk therein, and when it darkens upon them they stand [still].” [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 20]

Abdullah the son of Umar said: "I heard the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) as saying:

Meaning: "The similitude of a hypocrite is that of a sheep which roams aimlessly between two flocks. She goes to one at one time and to the other at another time.” [Reported by Muslim]

And in another narration as in Musnad of Imam Ahmad: "She goes to one at one time and to the other at another time. She does not know which one to follow, this or that.”

Allah (the Exalted) has explained in His Holy book and the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) has explained in his authentic tradition the works of hypocrites, their characters, signs, punishments in the world and in the hereafter and the rulings concerning relationship with them and the necessity for a believer to be cautious of hypocrisy and hypocrites, because they are bitter enemies and the worst of them in danger. For Allah (the Exalted) has said concerning them:

Meaning: "They are the enemies, so be cautious of them.” [Surah Al-Munafiqun, 63: 4]

Therefore, it is obligatory for a believer to be cautious of their deception and artifice, and he should beware of being deceived by what they decorates of the acts of infidelity, immorality and disobedience, and he should be cautious of imitating them in their behaviors, and appearing in their appearance.

 (Continued)