The Danger of Hypocrisy, with an Explanation of Its Types
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Question: In this time, hypocrisy has become great, its people have multiplied, and their means of fighting Islam and Muslims have become diverse. So it would be good if you would shed light on the danger of hypocrisy, explain its types, describe the characteristics of its people, and warn Muslims against them.
Answer: The danger of hypocrisy is great, and the evils of its people are many. Allah has clarified their characteristics in His Noble Book in Surat al-Baqarah and others, and His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also clarified their characteristics.
Allah the Exalted said in describing them in Surat al-Baqarah:[Al-Baqarah 2:8] They deceive Allah and those who believe, but they do not deceive except themselves, and they do not realize. In their hearts is a disease, so Allah increased their disease, and for them is a painful punishment because they used to lie. [Surat al-Baqarah: 8-10] and the verses following it. And He said in Surat al-Nisa: [An-Nisa 4:142] Wavering between them, not with these nor with those. the verse [Surat al-Nisa: 142 - 143]. And He mentioned other characteristics of them in Surat al-Tawbah and others.
In summary: they claim Islam and adopt characteristics that contradict it and harm its people, as the Exalted has clarified in these verses and others.
Hypocrisy is of two types: doctrinal and practical.
What Allah mentioned about the hypocrites in Surat al-Baqarah and Surat al-Nisa regarding the characteristics of the hypocrites is major doctrinal hypocrisy. By this, they are more disbelieving than the Jews, the Christians, and the worshippers of idols, due to the greatness of their danger and the concealment of their affair from many people. And Allah the Exalted informed us that on the Day of Resurrection, they will be in the lowest depth of the Fire.
As for practical hypocrisy: it is adopting some of their apparent characteristics while believing in Allah and His Messenger and believing in the Last Day, such as lying, betrayal, and laziness regarding prayer in congregation. Among their characteristics is what is established in the authentic hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih al-Bukhari 33 And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 797Sahih (Darussalam) And the verses and hadiths in this meaning are many.
So it is obligatory for every believing man and woman to guard against their characteristics with the utmost caution. And what helps in that is reflecting on what Allah mentioned in His Book regarding their characteristics, and what is authentic in the Sunnah from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding that.
And Allah is the One asked to grant us and all Muslims success in understanding His religion, steadfastness upon it, and caution against everything that contradicts His Shari'ah, and against imitating His enemies in their characteristics and deeds. He is the best of those asked.
Answer: The danger of hypocrisy is great, and the evils of its people are many. Allah has clarified their characteristics in His Noble Book in Surat al-Baqarah and others, and His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also clarified their characteristics.
Allah the Exalted said in describing them in Surat al-Baqarah:
And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allah and the Last Day," but they are not believers.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَا هُمْ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ 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,
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَى يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلا قَلِيلًا In summary: they claim Islam and adopt characteristics that contradict it and harm its people, as the Exalted has clarified in these verses and others.
Hypocrisy is of two types: doctrinal and practical.
What Allah mentioned about the hypocrites in Surat al-Baqarah and Surat al-Nisa regarding the characteristics of the hypocrites is major doctrinal hypocrisy. By this, they are more disbelieving than the Jews, the Christians, and the worshippers of idols, due to the greatness of their danger and the concealment of their affair from many people. And Allah the Exalted informed us that on the Day of Resurrection, they will be in the lowest depth of the Fire.
As for practical hypocrisy: it is adopting some of their apparent characteristics while believing in Allah and His Messenger and believing in the Last Day, such as lying, betrayal, and laziness regarding prayer in congregation. Among their characteristics is what is established in the authentic hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
The signs of a hypocrite are three: 1. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. 2. Whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise ). 3. If you trust him, he proves to be dishonest.
آية المنافق ثلاث: إذا حدث كذب، وإذا وعد أخلف وإذا اؤتمن خانThe most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are the 'Isha' prayer and the Fajr prayer. If only they knew what (reward) there is in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.
أثقل الصلاة على المنافقين: صلاة العشاء، وصلاة الفجر، ولو يعلمون ما فيهما لأتوهما ولو حبواSo it is obligatory for every believing man and woman to guard against their characteristics with the utmost caution. And what helps in that is reflecting on what Allah mentioned in His Book regarding their characteristics, and what is authentic in the Sunnah from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding that.
And Allah is the One asked to grant us and all Muslims success in understanding His religion, steadfastness upon it, and caution against everything that contradicts His Shari'ah, and against imitating His enemies in their characteristics and deeds. He is the best of those asked.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.