The Difference Between Whispers and Hypocrisy

Question:
What is the difference between a person afflicted with malicious whispers and a hypocrite?

Answer:
The characteristic of the hypocrite is that he displays Islam outwardly while concealing disbelief inwardly. Inwardly, he is with the disbelievers; he does not believe in Allah or the Last Day. Outwardly, he pretends to be a Muslim. This is major disbelief. Allah said regarding him: [Surat al-Nisa: 145]. These are greater than the open disbelievers; they are greater than the Jews and the Christians and more disbelieving. If he is a disbeliever inwardly, not believing in Allah or the Last Day, and not affirming the oneness of Allah, but rather hating the religion or cursing the religion, then his disbelief is more severe than the disbelief of the Jews and the Christians. His display of Islam only increases his distance [from the truth] because of his hypocrisy. For this reason, Allah placed them in the lowest depth of the Fire. This is called the major showing off. The showing off of the hypocrites is the major showing off. As for the showing off that occurs in people’s prayers and recitations, this is called the minor showing off, which is minor shirk. We ask Allah for safety from it.

The presenter : O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.