What is the reality of hypocrisy? What are its categories? Is there practical hypocrisy? Are we permitted to declare someone a hypocrite? And how is a hypocrite to be treated?

Eid Abbasi : What is the reality of the hadith on hypocrisy and what are its categories? Is there behavioral hypocrisy and creedal hypocrisy? Are we, as human beings, permitted to declare someone a hypocrite? How do we treat one who has a branch of the branches of hypocrisy? And is it established that he (peace and blessings be upon him) treated the hypocrites with a special treatment of torture and contempt?

The Shaykh : This question contains questions; therefore, the time is tight, so I will answer one question or more of what is feasible. In it is the distinction between practical hypocrisy and creedal hypocrisy. Practical hypocrisy can be known easily, unlike creedal hypocrisy, which is difficult to know except by signs and for some people. In reality, this is a matter that if a Muslim understands it, it helps him to understand some texts from the Sunnah. Without that understanding, there is no way to understand those texts. For example, in the Qur'an: , and in the authentic hadith in al-Bukhari and Muslim: and so on. Is this hypocrite who is described with these three descriptions in the lowest depth of the Fire, because Allah said: ? This is the point of inquiry.
We must know that hypocrisy is of two types: creedal hypocrisy and practical hypocrisy. Creedal hypocrisy is a man who conceals disbelief that makes him deserving of the Fire, remaining in it forever, and displays Islam. He prays with you while he does not pray, and fasts with you while he does not fast, and he may perform Hajj without performing it with you. He feigns worship to blend in with the Muslims. Naturally, this is when the state of Islam is established and decisive. The opposite of that does not remain; there is no longer disbelief, and there is no longer creedal hypocrisy, because the masses of people have been taught: "Religion is for Allah and the homeland is for everyone." The matter has become chaos of absolute freedom. As for practical hypocrisy, it exists permanently and forever, because in brief, practical hypocrisy is the neglect of some of what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has made obligatory upon the Muslim. How is this called hypocrisy? The matter is very clear.
We imagined earlier the hypocrite who is in the lowest depth of the Fire, displaying Islam and concealing disbelief. He is a disbeliever in the depths of his soul, and displaying Islam does not benefit him in any way. To this reality, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) pointed in the famous, indeed mass-transmitted, hadith: . What is the meaning of: ? Islam is the covenant of apparent Islam. If they become Muslim in appearance and disbelievers in reality, their reckoning is with Allah. If they become Muslim in truth and fall short in performing some of the pillars of Islam or others, their reckoning is also with Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). So this hypocrite who displays Islam and conceals disbelief, it is very easy for us to understand that he is a hypocrite first, and that he is in the lowest depth of the Fire second. But what about the opposite? How is that?
; Is the one who lies habitually a disbeliever, one who is eternal in the Fire like that hypocrite with creedal hypocrisy? The answer is no. So why did he call him a hypocrite? Because he displays the opposite of what he conceals. He meets the first hypocrite in this point that he displays the opposite of what he conceals, but opposite to the hypocrite who is eternal in the Fire. That one conceals misguidance and displays Islam, while this one conceals Islam now, but displays action contrary to Islam. A person you ask: Is lying forbidden or lawful? He tells you: Forbidden, from his belief, meaning from his heart, not from hypocrisy, from creed. ; If you ask him: Is fulfilling a promise obligatory or not obligatory? He tells you: No, it is obligatory. in one narration, and in the other narration: . If you ask him about these characteristics and their opposites, are they affirmed in Islam? He tells you: Yes, lying is forbidden. So he believes in the prohibition... The hypocrite does not believe in the obligation of faith in Islam; so in his heart he conceals the opposite of what he displays, but he conceals evil and displays good. The Muslim who lies, for example, displays that lying is forbidden, but the reality... his action contradicts his heart. His forbidden action contradicts his believing heart. As for that hypocrite, it is exactly the opposite; therefore, this type of hypocrisy is called practical hypocrisy. His action is the action of the hypocrites who display the opposite of what they conceal. He displays betrayal, lack of trustworthiness, he displays lying contrary to truth, he displays... and so on. But he conceals... these things are forbidden and he must avoid them. So from here, this type of hypocrisy is practical hypocrisy.
So it does not pose a problem for us that knowing... that knowing the hypocrites of the second type is very easy, because everyone you see who is a Muslim and does not pray is a hypocrite. Why? Because he says: I am a Muslim. Good, a Muslim; ; You do not pray? May Allah accept our repentance. So this one acts contrary to what he believes, and that one believes contrary to what he acts. And from here they meet in hypocrisy and differ in the form of hypocrisy.
Perhaps in this is an explanation of this reality, and it is possible, in my belief, to understand the rest of what the previous question contained of branches.

Another questioner : Yes, is the one who abandons prayer a practical disbeliever or a practical hypocrite?

The Shaykh : I am currently speaking about the practical hypocrite.

Another questioner : Good, you mentioned... for example, regarding the practical disbeliever.

The Shaykh : The result is one; practical disbelief and practical hypocrisy, they meet, there is no conflict here.
Yes.

Eid Abbasi : Are we permitted to declare someone a hypocrite?

The Shaykh : I did not say; practical hypocrisy is possible, but as for creedal hypocrisy, Allah knows best, unless something has appeared from him.

Eid Abbasi : Likewise.

The Shaykh : Allah knows best.
Yes.

Another questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : Wait a little, yes.

Another questioner : ؟

The Shaykh: Yes.

Another questioner : ... if he had these four, he was a pure hypocrite.

The Shaykh : Yes.

Another questioner : Does the word "pure" not indicate... creedal hypocrisy?

The Shaykh : No, there is not, this is an affirmation of the previous hadith and nothing more. "Pure" means practically. My brother, we cannot declare a Muslim a disbeliever merely because he violated the Shari'ah in one or two or five or ten or a hundred sins.

Another questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : I affirm the hypocrisy described by the Messenger (peace be upon him); so he is a pure hypocrite; meaning nothing is mixed with it regarding these characteristics.

Another questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : Yes?

Another questioner : ... nothing is mixed with it of faith.

The Shaykh : Nothing is mixed with it of faith? No, we are not talking about faith here, we are talking about action, and whether you adhere to what you say? And is breaking a promise an exit from faith?

Another questioner: No.

The Shaykh : Yes?

Another questioner : No, of course.

The Shaykh : The gathering of the four and the forty and the hundred and the thousand, all the sins, if they gathered in a monotheist, they do not affect him at all, and he does not remain in the Fire with the hypocrites and disbelievers.