WHO ARE THE HYPOCRITES IN ISLAM & THEIR SIGNS Part 4 of 5

WHO ARE THE HYPOCRITES IN ISLAM & THEIR SIGNS

Part 4 of 5

4.0 HYPOCRITE ARE THE ENEMY, SO BEWARE OF THEM.

The hypocrites are many, particularly during times in which the Ummah is strong, for their ability to publicly display their enmity at such times is limited and thus they resort to two-facedness. Ash-Sha’bi once said,

“If it wasn’t for the presence of the hypocrites, you would feel lonely as you walk the streets.”

Despite their numbers however, they can be at times difficult to spot, because they dress like the believers, pray with the believers, marry from the believers, but behind closed doors, they conspire against them. Thus Allāh said,

وَإِذَا رَأَيۡتَهُمۡ تُعۡجِبُكَ أَجۡسَامُهُمۡ‌ۖ وَإِن يَقُولُواْ تَسۡمَعۡ لِقَوۡلِهِمۡ‌ۖ كَأَنَّہُمۡ خُشُبٌ۬ مُّسَنَّدَةٌ۬‌ۖ يَحۡسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيۡحَةٍ عَلَيۡہِمۡ‌ۚ هُمُ ٱلۡعَدُوُّ فَٱحۡذَرۡهُمۡ‌ۚ قَـٰتَلَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ‌ۖ أَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَكُونَ (٤)

“They are the enemy, so beware of them. May Allāh destroy them; how are they deluded?”(Holy Quran Chapter, 63:4)

They are the real enemy because, unlike the external enemy who makes his enmity loud and clear, they, on the other hand, reside within, silently striving to dismantle Islām. They are a people who recite the Qur’ān but their hearts are averse to it. They may smile at the Muslims but their hearts despise the sight of them.

It is for this reason that the Qur’ān has paid special attention to the topic of hypocrisy, uncovering their secrets, exposing their universal characteristics and illustrating their signs so as to protect the Muslims from being deceived by their sweet words and smart appearances. Imām Ibnul Qayyim said, “The Qur’ān was almost entirely dedicated to the topic of the hypocrites.”

As an Ummah we live amongst the dark reality of the hypocrites, many of whom are given extended air time on TV and positions of authority. At a time when the Ummah of Islām is most in need of illumination, we turn to the book of Allāh and tour some of the Āyāt which speak of their signs.

The first of their signs as depicted by the Qur’ān: A constant expectancy of the downfall of the believers.

Their hearts are ill with insecurity. The moment they see the waves of falsehood gaining momentum, they are the first to express their anticipation of the fall of the believers. As Allāh said, describing the hypocrites at the time of the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam):

بَلۡ ظَنَنتُمۡ أَن لَّن يَنقَلِبَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِيهِمۡ أَبَدً۬ا وَزُيِّنَ ذَٲلِكَ فِى قُلُوبِكُمۡ وَظَنَنتُمۡ ظَنَّ ٱلسَّوۡءِ وَڪُنتُمۡ قَوۡمَۢا بُورً۬ا (١٢)

“You thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families, ever, and that was made pleasing in your hearts. And you assumed an assumption of evil and became a people ruined.”(Holy Quran Chapter, 48:12)

In the face of every calamity that befalls the believers, where they may find themselves cornered and outnumbered, they claim that this is “the end of the Da’wah”, always expecting the worst from Allāh. However, as soon as the tables begin to turn, their loud voices silence as they begin to retreat.

The second of their signs as depicted by the Qur’an: Perpetual mockery of the believers and of their Dīn.

They will label the Muslims as “backward”, “regressive”, “stuck in the dark ages” and other pre-packaged labels that are well-known. Just as Allāh said,

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ ءَامِنُواْ كَمَآ ءَامَنَ ٱلنَّاسُ قَالُوٓاْ أَنُؤۡمِنُ كَمَآ ءَامَنَ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ‌ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّهُمۡ هُمُ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا يَعۡلَمُونَ (١٣)

“And when it is said to them, “Believe as the people have believed,” they say, “Should we believe as the foolish have believed?” Unquestionably, it is they who are the foolish, but they know [it] not.”(Holy Quran Chapter, 2:13)

They will not let an opportunity to pass, whether it is a written piece in the newspaper, or a TV interview, or an awards ceremony or it’s like, to hurl insults and express sarcasm at the Muslims. And yet, on the other hand, they are quick to express their utmost admiration and respect of the values of others. Their bodies are with the Muslims but their hearts and allegiance are elsewhere. Allāh says,

أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ نَافَقُواْ يَقُولُونَ لِإِخۡوَٲنِهِمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ لَٮِٕنۡ أُخۡرِجۡتُمۡ لَنَخۡرُجَنَّ مَعَكُمۡ وَلَا نُطِيعُ فِيكُمۡ أَحَدًا أَبَدً۬ا وَإِن قُوتِلۡتُمۡ لَنَنصُرَنَّكُمۡ وَٱللَّهُ يَشۡہَدُ إِنَّہُمۡ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ (١١)

“Have you not considered those who practice hypocrisy, saying to their brothers who have disbelieved among the People of the Scripture, “If you are expelled, we will surely leave with you, and we will not obey, in regard to you, anyone – ever; and if you are fought, we will surely aid you.” But Allāh testifies that they are liars.”(Holy Quran Chapter, 59:11)

The third of their signs as depicted by the Qur’ān: Spying against the Muslims and reporting back to their superiors.

Since they share a common goal with their superiors, namely to root out the believers, you may see them weeping in the Friday sermons and displaying expressions of Īmān in lectures, whilst they hide a fault-finding intent, as they record the material at hand and send it back to their superiors, hoping for a worldly return at the cost of their Ākhira. As Allāh says in the Qur’ān,

(٤٦) لَوۡ خَرَجُواْ فِيكُم مَّا زَادُوكُمۡ إِلَّا خَبَالاً۬ وَلَأَوۡضَعُواْ خِلَـٰلَكُمۡ يَبۡغُونَڪُمُ ٱلۡفِتۡنَةَ وَفِيكُمۡ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لَهُمۡ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

“.. And there are some among you who listen for them. And Allāh is Knowing of the wrongdoers.”{Holy Quran Chapter, 9:47}

Imām Al-Qurtubi explains this Āyah, saying: “It is in reference to the spies amongst you who report back to them with information.”

The fourth of their signs as depicted by the Qur’ān: They seek to justify their actions Islamically.

Since they are a people who display Īmān but conceal disbelief, they have a vested interest in not being discovered for who they really are. Thus, they paint their behaviour with the paint of Islām and dress their actions with the garments of Qur’ān and Sunnah. As long as they are able to find a fringe opinion to support their case, they will bring it to the surface. It does not matter to them whether this opinion is completely erroneous or not, what matters is that they provide Islamic cover for their cause.

News was conveyed to the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) that the Romans were preparing an army to invade Madīnah and thus he made preparations to go out and meet them, in what would be later known as the Battle of Tabūk. There were however hypocrites who refused to go out with the Messenger (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam). One of these hypocrites was Al-Jadd b. Qays. He used an Islamic costume to cover his hypocrisy and thus excuse himself from partaking. He said, “O Messenger of Allāh, can you please give me permission to stay back and not place me in temptation? For by Allāh, my people know very well that I am the most amongst them who is attracted to women and I worry that if I see the Roman woman, I may not be patient.”

This of course was nothing but feigned chastity and forged religiosity. However, Allāh would not leave them unexposed. Allāh said,

وَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَقُولُ ٱئۡذَن لِّى وَلَا تَفۡتِنِّىٓ‌ۚ أَلَا فِى ٱلۡفِتۡنَةِ سَقَطُواْ‌ۗ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةُۢ بِٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ (٤٩)

“And among them is he who says, “Permit me to remain at home and do not expose me to Fitnah.” Unquestionably, they have fallen into Fitnah. And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers.”{Holy Quran Chapter, Surah 9, Ayah 49}.

The fifth of their signs as depicted by the Qur’ān: They enjoin what is evil and forbid what is good.

The hypocrites crave to see the spreading of indecency and they will use their Islamic cover to do so. Allāh says,

ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتُ بَعۡضُهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡضٍ۬‌ۚ يَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡمُنڪَرِ وَيَنۡہَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَيَقۡبِضُونَ أَيۡدِيَہُمۡ‌ۚ نَسُواْ ٱللَّهَ فَنَسِيَہُمۡ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَـٰسِقُونَ (٦٧)

“The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands (from spending in the path of Allāh). They have forgotten Allāh, so He has forgotten them. Indeed, it is the hypocrites who are the defiantly disobedient.”{Holy Quran Chapter, Surah 9, Ayah 67}.

When you track the words of the hypocrites of any era, you will find that all of their statements are in attempt of doing one thing: Closing the doors of good and opening the doors of evil. If they are unable to close the door, they do all they can to push people away from it and cause them to hate it. Allāh says,

هُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لَا تُنفِقُواْ عَلَىٰ مَنۡ عِندَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ حَتَّىٰ يَنفَضُّواْ‌ۗ وَلِلَّهِ خَزَآٮِٕنُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَا يَفۡقَهُونَ (٧)

“They are the ones who say, “Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allāh until they desert him.” {Holy Quran Chapter, Surah 63, Ayah 7}

And Allāh said,

 فَرِحَ ٱلۡمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقۡعَدِهِمۡ خِلَـٰفَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَرِهُوٓاْ أَن يُجَـٰهِدُواْ بِأَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِہِمۡ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالُواْ لَا تَنفِرُواْ فِى ٱلۡحَرِّ‌ۗ قُلۡ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّ۬ا‌ۚ لَّوۡ كَانُواْ يَفۡقَهُونَ (٨١)

“..They said: “Do not march forth in the heat.” Say: “The Fire of Hell is more intense in heat”; if only they could understand!”{Holy Quran Chapter, 9:81}

Not only do they seek to close all the doors of goodness, purity and decency, but they actively seek to open the doors of indecency and sin. A people whom the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) would describe as being, “Callers at the gates of the Hellfire. Whoever answers their call, they will throw him inside.” Hudhaifa, the narrator, said: “O Messenger of Allāh, describe these people to us”

He said, “They are from our race and speak our language.”{Narrated by Muslim}

The sixth of their signs as depicted by the Qur’ān: They are people who will always present themselves as well-wishers and advocates of goodness.

However, because their hearts are void of Ikhlās (sincerity), the scales which they weigh matters with are distorted. Thus, despite their evil practices, they consider themselves well-wishers and sincere advisers. As Allāh said,

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ لَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ مُصۡلِحُونَ (١١)

“And when it is said to them, “Do not cause corruption on the earth,” they say, “We are peace-makers.”{Holy Quran Chapter, 2:11}

They may give themselves every impressive title that they wish. But Allāh tells them the fact of the matter:

أَلَآ إِنَّهُمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدُونَ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا يَشۡعُرُونَ (١٢)

“Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they do not perceive it.”{Holy Quran Chapter, 2:12}

These are the hypocrites, the vilest of all people. Their actions and statements may vary according to place and time, but nevertheless, their behaviour stems back to common values which they all share: Ill-intent, conspiring against Islām and a fear of being caught.

These are the traits of the hypocrites in the life of this world and so now we ask: What then about their traits on the Day of Standing? This is when their masks will be stripped off once and for all, before then falling into the deepest pits of hell.

The Sirāt is a bridge that will be placed over the Hellfire and is one of the final phases on the Day of Judgement. However, not everyone will be made to pass over it. Rather, the disbelievers would have been driven to Jahannam beforehand immediately after receiving their books of deeds. Imām Ibnu Rajab said, “As for the polytheists, they will not walk over the bridge but will be made to fall into the Hellfire before the bridge is even established.” {From his book, ‘At-Takhwīf min An-Nār’}.

Therefore leaving the believers and the hypocrites together, as they walk towards the bridge. Up until this point, the hypocrites were deluded into thinking that matters were progressing well for them, for they are still walking amongst the believers. Their calamity however begins the moment they reach the edge of this thin and sharp bridge, for on this dark day, this is when their lights go out. Allāh says, “On the same Day the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to those who believed, “Wait for us! Let us borrow some of your light!!” It will be said, “Go back behind you and seek light.” Then, a wall will be placed between them with a door, on its inside there is mercy, but on the outside of it is torment.”

They had deceived many Muslims in the life of this world into thinking that they were part of them. On the Day of Standing their true identities will be exposed and when they need light the most, their light will be extinguished.

“The hypocrites will call to the believers, “Were we not with you?!” They will say, “Yes, but you led yourselves to temptation and awaited misfortune for us and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allāh. And the Deceiver (Shayṭān) deceived you concerning Allāh.”

يَوۡمَ يَقُولُ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱنظُرُونَا نَقۡتَبِسۡ مِن نُّورِكُمۡ قِيلَ ٱرۡجِعُواْ وَرَآءَكُمۡ فَٱلۡتَمِسُواْ نُورً۬ا فَضُرِبَ بَيۡنَہُم بِسُورٍ۬ لَّهُ ۥ بَابُۢ بَاطِنُهُ ۥ فِيهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَةُ وَظَـٰهِرُهُ ۥ مِن قِبَلِهِ ٱلۡعَذَابُ (١٣) يُنَادُونَہُمۡ أَلَمۡ نَكُن مَّعَكُمۡ‌ۖ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمۡ فَتَنتُمۡ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَتَرَبَّصۡتُمۡ وَٱرۡتَبۡتُمۡ وَغَرَّتۡكُمُ ٱلۡأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمۡرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡغَرُورُ (١٤) فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ لَا يُؤۡخَذُ مِنكُمۡ فِدۡيَةٌ۬ وَلَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ‌ۚ مَأۡوَٮٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ‌ۖ هِىَ مَوۡلَٮٰكُمۡ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ (١٥)

“So today no ransom will be taken from you or from those who disbelieved. Your abode is the Fire. It is most worthy of you, and evil is that destination.”{Holy Quran Chapter, 57:13-15}

As the hypocrites approach the Sirāt (the bridge of the Day of Judgement) having been stripped entirely from all light, they will fall into a fire that has been waiting for them. They continue their head-first dive into oblivion until they hit the lowest and most severe pits of the fire.

Allāh says,

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرۡكِ ٱلۡأَسۡفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمۡ نَصِيرًا (١٤٥)

“Surely the hypocrites will be in the lowest stage of the fire.”{Holy Quran Chapter, 4:145}

Is there room for change? Will Allāh ever accept the repentance of a Munāfiq who decides to drop his two-facedness once and for all, having chosen the path of Paradise instead? Can such an individual ever be forgiven by Allāh? Alḥamdulillah, there is hope.

Allāh says,

كَيۡفَ يَهۡدِى ٱللَّهُ قَوۡمً۬ا ڪَفَرُواْ بَعۡدَ إِيمَـٰنِہِمۡ وَشَهِدُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱلرَّسُولَ حَقٌّ۬ وَجَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتُ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (٨٦) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ جَزَآؤُهُمۡ أَنَّ عَلَيۡهِمۡ لَعۡنَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجۡمَعِينَ (٨٧) خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَا لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنۡهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمۡ يُنظَرُونَ (٨٨) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٲلِكَ وَأَصۡلَحُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ (٨٩)

“How shall Allāh guide a people who disbelieved after their belief and had witnessed that the Messenger is true and clear signs had come to them? And Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people. As for them, their recompense will be that upon them is the curse of Allāh and the angels and the people, all together. Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will it be postponed. Except for those who repent after that and correct themselves. For indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.” {Holy Quran Chapter, 3:86-89}

In many more verses Allāh opens the horizons of hope for such people, offering a way to renege on their erroneous ways and be counted amongst the believing people.

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرۡكِ ٱلۡأَسۡفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمۡ نَصِيرًا (١٤٥) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصۡلَحُواْ وَٱعۡتَصَمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَأَخۡلَصُواْ دِينَهُمۡ لِلَّهِ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ مَعَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ‌ۖ وَسَوۡفَ يُؤۡتِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمً۬ا (١٤٦)

“Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire – and never will you find for them a helper. Except for those who repent, correct themselves, hold fast to Allāh, and are sincere in their religion for Allāh, for those will be with the believers. And Allāh is going to give the believers a great reward.”[Holy Quran Chapter, 4:145-146]

In conclusion, let us Repent, correct ourselves, be sincere in our religion for the sake of Allāh, and for us will be the identity of a believer, in shā Allāh.