WHO ARE THE HYPOCRITES IN ISLAM & THEIR SIGNS (Part 1 of 5)

WHO ARE THE HYPOCRITES IN ISLAM & THEIR SIGNS 
(Part 1 of 5)

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

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TUESDAY 8^th JUMADA Akhir 1441 AH and 4^th JANUARY 2020 CE

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Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu. Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sallalahu alaihi Wasalam) is His slave and Messenger.

PREAMBLE

We undertook compiling of this article for DAWAH purposes for keen awareness of our nominal Muslims and others to check ourselves inwards within this framework of current hypocrisy perpetrating in the current societal and global ills. Many Muslims under the umbrella of Islam are corrupters and yet hold public offices thereby they impose on the masses what they desire rather than religious concepts.

Rasulullah (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said: "A word of wisdom is the lost property of a Muslim. He should seize it wherever he finds it." (Tirmizi) (The Inspiration of a Muslim).

In The longest Sūrah of the Qur’ān is Sūrah Al-Baqara: It is introduced by giving the characteristics of three different categories of people. The first four verses speak in description of the people of Īmān (believers). It then goes on to describe the disbelievers (Kufr) in just two verses. The verses then go on to describe the people of Nifāq (hypocrisy) in thirteen long verses. Why were so many verses dedicated to them?

Imām Ibnul Qayyim explains, “Because of their sheer numbers and far reaching harm on Islām and the Muslims. The damage that they cause is very disastrous because they are attributed to Islām and are supposed supporters and allies of it, but in reality, they are its enemies.”

He goes on to say, “My Lord! How many strongholds of Islām have they destroyed? How many forts of Islām have they uprooted and ruined? How many sciences of Islām have they effaced? How many raised flags of Islam have they lowered? How many times have they struck the principles of Islam using the axes of their doubtful matters? They do this whilst claiming that they are peacemakers, ‘whereas they are the corrupters but they do not perceive so.’” (Refer to Madārij As-Sālikīn).

WHO ARE THE HYPOCRITES IN ISLAM & THEIR SIGNS

Part 1 of 5

1.0 DIFFERENT SIGNS OF THE HYPOCRITES

1.1 SIGN ONE: FALSEHOOD AND LYING

Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) says: "Lying is a pillar from among the pillars of disbelief." He also says that whenever Allaah mentions hypocrisy in the Qur'aan, He mentions lying along with it and vice-versa. The One free from all imperfections, the Exalted has said:

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَبِٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ (٨) يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَمَا يَخۡدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ (٩) فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ۬ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمُۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡذِبُونَ (١٠)

"They think that they deceive Allaah and those who have accepted Faith, but they do not deceive except themselves and yet they do not perceive this. In their hearts is a disease so Allaah has increased them in this disease. For them is a tormenting punishment for their falsehood." [Holy Quran Chapter Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 8-10].

إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقُونَ قَالُواْ نَشۡہَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشۡہَدُ إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ (١)

"Allaah does witness that the hypocrites are indeed liars." [Holy Quran Chapter Soorah al-Munafiqoon (63): 1].

Whenever hypocrisy is mentioned, lack of the remembrance of Allaah is mentioned and when Faith is mentioned the remembrance of Allaah is mentioned along with it. Allaah says:

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَـٰدِعُهُمۡ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ قَامُواْ كُسَالَىٰ يُرَآءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَلَا يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬ (١٤٢)

"They do not remember Allaah except little." [Holy Quran Chapter Soorah an-Nisa' (4): 142]

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُلۡهِكُمۡ أَمۡوَٲلُكُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَـٰدُڪُمۡ عَن ذِڪۡرِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٲلِكَ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرُونَ (٩

"O You who believe! Do not let your wealth or offspring divert you from the remembrance of Allaah." [Holy Quran Chapter Soorah al-Munafiqoon (63): 9].

Allaah has cleared the believers of hypocrisy due to their remembrance of Him and has described the hypocrites with their little remembrance of Him. The Messenger of Allaah said as is reported by both al-Bukhaaree and Muslim:

"The signs of a hypocrite are three ... "

Among them is mentioned that "... when he talks he lies."

Therefore, if he lies jokingly or seriously (in any matter) or in order to accomplish an objective or an end then there is within him a branch of hypocrisy. He does not lie except due to the hypocrisy in his heart and Allaah is the One from whom all aid is sought.

Lying is a clear sign which testifies to the hypocrisy of the one who does it. Likewise for the one who lies in jest as some people are careless in that.

The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Woe be to him, woe be to him, woe be to him, he who utters a lie to make people laugh." [Reported by Ahmad in Musnad and declared hasan by al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Jaami'].

Lying is cursed whether it is done seriously or jokingly. So one must be cautious against this blameworthy habit since the foundation of hypocrisy, its greatest pillar, its leader, its momentum and its support is lying. The hypocrites did not exhibit hypocrisy except due to falsehood in their hearts and that begins as a small speck in the heart, then deepens and enlarges, until it becomes a fortress from among the fortresses of hypocrisy - refuge is only with Allaah! Therefore, I warn myself and you, for the sake of Allaah, from lying. Beware of lying as it is due to hypocrisy and Allaah has described the hypocrites with lying.

1.1.1 Lying. Al-Hassan Al-Basri said: “Nifaq is the difference between the inner and the appearance, between statement and action and between entering and leaving and it used to be said that the foundation of nifaq upon which it is built is lying.”

1.1.2 Breaking Promises. This falls into two categories: a) Making a promise with no intention of keeping it. Al-Awaa’il said that one who says “I will do such-and-such Inshallah” without intending to do it has committed both lying and breaking a promise.

b) Making a promise intending to keep it and then later deciding to break it.

1.1.3 Transgression in Dispute: The main meaning of ‘transgression’ here is to intentionally speak other than truth making truth falsehood and vice versa. Lying “calls to” this as in the hadith: “Beware of lying for lying guides to transgression and transgression leads to the fire.” (Bukhari, Muslim). Rasulullah (sallalahu alaihi wa salaam) said: “The most hated of men to Allah is the one given to fierce and violent disputation.” (Bukhari, Muslim) Rasulullah (sallalahu alaihi wa salaam)) said about the one who takes what is not his through clever speech has only been given a piece of the fire.

1.1.4 These issues have all been connected to hypocrisy in the Qur’an:

a) Holy Quran Chapter Surah Al-Munaafiqoon 63: 1-2 (Lying, breaking oaths)

“When the Hypocrites come to thee, they say, “We bear witness that thou art indeed the Messenger of Allah.” Yea, Allah knoweth that thou art indeed His Messenger, and Allah beareth witness that the Hypocrites are indeed liars. They have made their oaths a screen (for their misdeeds): thus they obstruct (men) from the Path of Allah. Truly evil are their deeds.”

b) Holy Quran Chapter Surah At-Taubah 9: 73-77 (False oaths, breaking promises (to Allah), lying)

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ جَـٰهِدِ ٱلۡڪُفَّارَ وَٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱغۡلُظۡ عَلَيۡہِمۡ‌ۚ وَمَأۡوَٮٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ (٧٣) يَحۡلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ مَا قَالُواْ وَلَقَدۡ قَالُواْ كَلِمَةَ ٱلۡكُفۡرِ وَڪَفَرُواْ بَعۡدَ إِسۡلَـٰمِهِمۡ وَهَمُّواْ بِمَا لَمۡ يَنَالُواْ‌ۚ وَمَا نَقَمُوٓاْ إِلَّآ أَنۡ أَغۡنَٮٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ‌ۚ فَإِن يَتُوبُواْ يَكُ خَيۡرً۬ا لَّهُمۡ‌ۖ وَإِن يَتَوَلَّوۡاْ يُعَذِّبۡہُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَذَابًا أَلِيمً۬ا فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأَخِرَةِ‌ۚ وَمَا لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِن وَلِىٍّ۬ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ۬ (٧٤) ۞ وَمِنۡہُم مَّنۡ عَـٰهَدَ ٱللَّهَ لَٮِٕنۡ ءَاتَٮٰنَا مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ (٧٥) فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَٮٰهُم مِّن فَضۡلِهِۦ بَخِلُواْ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّواْ وَّهُم مُّعۡرِضُونَ (٧٦) فَأَعۡقَبَہُمۡ نِفَاقً۬ا فِى قُلُوبِہِمۡ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ يَلۡقَوۡنَهُ ۥ بِمَآ أَخۡلَفُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا ڪَانُواْ يَكۡذِبُونَ (٧٧)

(72) O Prophet! strive hard against the Unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell― an evil refuge indeed. (73) They swear by Allah that they said nothing (evil), but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they did it after accepting Islam; and they meditated a plot which they were unable to carry out: this revenge of theirs was (their) only return for the bounty with which Allah and His Messenger had enriched them! If they repent, it will be best for them; but if they turn back (to their evil ways), Allah will punish them with a grievous penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: they shall have none on earth to protect or help them. (74) Amongst them are men who made a covenant with Allah, that if He bestowed on them of His bounty they would give (largely) in charity, and be truly amongst those who are righteous. (75) But when He did bestow of His bounty, they became misers and turned back (from their covenant), averse (from its fulfillment). (76) So He hath put as a consequence hypocrisy into their hearts, (to last) till the Day whereon they shall meet Him: because they broke their Covenant with Allah, and because they lied (again and again). (77)

1.2 SIGN TWO: TREACHERY

Evidence for this is his sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam saying: "... and when he makes a covenant with somebody he acts treacherously (or is disloyal)." [Reported by al-Bukhaaree from 'Abdullaah bin 'Amr al-'Aas]

So whoever gives his right hand to the Muslims, the leader or any Muslim and makes a covenant with him, or to a disbeliever in war (i.e. treaty) and then acts treacherously (or is disloyal to his covenant) then he has testified against himself with hypocrisy. This is shown from the hadeeth of Buraidah in Saheeh Muslim, the day when he sallallaahu ' alayhi wa sallam appointed an ameer and said to him:

"When the people of the fort ask you that they should be allowed to give up and (be judged) in accordance with the judgment of Allaah, the appease them upon your judgement for verily, your guarding / protecting your covenants is easier than guarding/protecting the covenant of Allaah."

Whoever gives his trust to a man, his wife, his son, his companion, his friend or the leader, then deceives and acts treacherously without legal justification from the Sharee'ah, then clearly, this is a sign and a pillar from the pillars of hypocrisy and refuge is only with Allaah.

1.3 SIGN 3: SHOWING INSOLENCE AND LICENTIOUSNESS IN ARGUMENTATION

This is due to the prophet's sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam saying reported by both al-Bukhaaree and Muslim: "...and when he argues he behaves insolently."

The People of Knowledge have said: whoever argues with a Muslim (and I say a Muslim because argumentation with disbelievers is in a different category which they have separated from argumentation with a Muslim) and behaves immodestly in his argumentation then he has called Allaah to witness as to what is in his heart: that he is an insolent hypocrite.

As for the disbeliever, then there is a hadith: "War is deception." [Reported by al-Bukhaaree] Ali radiAllaahu 'anhu acted upon it and it has another separate explanation. When deception of the disbelievers is required and jesting with them and making ruses and stratagems against them is appropriate then there is no treachery in that, but rather it comes under the category of deception and strategy and there is no evil in it.