Explanation of the Hadith: "The sign of the hypocrite is three..."

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Question:
In the hadith of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):

The sign of the hypocrite is three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he disputes, he commits open sinfulness.

آية المنافق ثلاث: إذا حدث كذب، وإذا عاهد أخلف، وإذا خاصم فجر

Would you please clarify this hadith, and specifically:

When he litigates, he commits injustice

إذا خاصم فجر

Does the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) mean quick anger, or what does it mean?

Answer:
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us about the characteristics of the hypocrites to warn us against them, so that we may stay away from them. He said (peace and blessings be upon him):

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 خان

Sahih al-Bukhari 33

He warns us against breaking promises, lying in speech and news, and betraying trusts, and that these are among the characteristics of the people of hypocrisy, may Allah protect us. So we must be cautious of them.
And he said (peace and blessings be upon him):

Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up. 1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays. 2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. 3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous. 4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner.

أربع من كن فيه كان منافقًا خالصًا، ومن كانت فيه خصلة منهن كانت فيه خصلة من النفاق، حتى يدعها: إذا حدث كذب، وإذا وعد أخلف، وإذا خاصم فجر، وإذا عاهد غدر

Sahih al-Bukhari 34

It was narrated by the two Shaykhs from the hadith of Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). This indicates that among the characteristics of the hypocrite is breaking promises, lying in speech, and betraying trusts, and that when he disputes, he commits open sinfulness, and his open sinfulness is the expansion into disobedience and lying.

And if he makes a covenant, he betrays

وإذا عاهد غدر

If he makes a covenant with his brothers, or makes a covenant with the disbelievers, he betrays them and does not fulfill the covenant due to the weakness of his faith, or the absence of his faith.

And when he disputes

وإذا خاصم

He lies in his dispute and expands in lying, open sinfulness, and injustice; due to the absence of his faith, or the weakness of his faith. So open sinfulness is the expansion into disobedience and displaying it—may Allah grant us safety—like the bursting forth of water.
So the result is: that he expands in lying, aggression against the opponent, and stubbornness in the dispute due to the weakness of his faith, or the absence of his faith, may Allah protect us. This is the state of the hypocrites due to their lack of faith. They have other characteristics that Allah has specified in the Qur'an besides these characteristics. He said, the Exalted:

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 إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ۝

[An-Nisa 4:142]

wavering between them, not with these and not with those [Al-Nisa: 142-143]. This is among their characteristics, such as deception, plotting, and aggression against people.
And among their characteristics: laziness regarding prayer, heaviness in it, and little remembrance, meaning: negligence prevails over them.
And among their characteristics: showing off in their deeds. They pray for showing off, they give charity for showing off, they remember Allah for showing off.
And among their vile characteristics: that they have no steadfastness. They waver, sometimes with the believers and sometimes with the disbelievers. They have wavered in their religion and fluctuated; for this reason he said:

wavering

مذبذبين

They have no steadfastness, neither with the people of truth, nor with the people of falsehood. They are with whom they see benefit to be with in their worldly life. If the disbelievers are victorious, they become with them, and if the believers are victorious, they become with them, seeking the world and safety, and the like of that. May Allah grant us safety. This is their state: lack of steadfastness. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.

Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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