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5- Hypocrisy 

Hypocrisy is a dangerous disease, and every Muslim is supposed to be so afraid of it. How to avoid it? What is its definition? What are its types? Would a Muslim commit it and still a Muslim? All answered in below video.

Video parts:👇👇

00:00 - Introduction 00:26 - Hypocrisy definition. 00:52 - Hypocrisy types. 01:00 - 1st type: Doctrinal Hypocrisy and its classes. 03:46 - 2nd type: Practical hypocrisy and its acts.

Video link: 👇👇

https://youtu.be/Oig5lQCOasA

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And from Islam-qa, I quoted following two related topics:

Question

What is hypocrisy in Islam and how dangerous is it for the Muslims?


What is hypocrisy in Islam?

Hypocrisy in Islam is a serious sickness and a great crime. It means making an outward display of Islam whilst inwardly concealing disbelief. Hypocrisy is more dangerous than disbelief and the punishment for it is more severe, because it is disbelief mixed with Islam and its harmful effects are greater. Hence Allah will put the hypocrites in the lowest level of Hell, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

{Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them.} [Al-Nisa 4:145] 

The hypocrites are always confused, always planning deceit and plots. Although outwardly they appear to be with the believers, inwardly they are with the disbelievers. So sometimes they are inclined towards the believers and sometimes they are inclined towards the disbelievers. 

{(They are) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these nor to those; and he whom Allah sends astray, you will not find for him a way (to the truth — Islam)} [al-Nisa 4:143 – interpretation of the meaning] 

Because of the corruption of their hearts, the hypocrites are the most averse of mankind to the religion of Allah, as Allah tells us about them (interpretation of the meaning): 

{And when it is said to them: ‘Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger (Muhammad),’ you (Muhammad) see the hypocrites turn away from you (Muhammad) with aversion} [al-Nisa 4:61] 

The dealings of the hypocrites revolve around their own interests. When they meet the believers, they make a show of belief and loyalty, in order to deceive the believers and as an action of dissimulation, hoping for whatever good and war-booty they have. But when they meet their masters and chiefs, they say, we are with you in your shirk and kufr. Allah says concerning them (interpretation of the meaning): 

{And when they meet those who believe, they say: “We believe,” but when they are alone with their Shayatin (devils — polytheists, hypocrites), they say: “Truly, we are with you; verily, we were but mocking

Allah mocks at them and gives them increase in their wrong-doing to wander blindly} [al-Baqarah 2:14-15] 

Characteristics of the hypocrites

  • The hypocrites have many characteristics, the worst and most serious of which is disbelief in Allah. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 
  • Among their characteristics are enmity and envy (hasad) towards the believers, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 
  • Among their characteristics is mockery of Allah, His Messenger and His religion. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 
  • Among their characteristics is that they spread corruption on earth, with disbelief, hypocrisy and sins. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 
  • Among their characteristics are slander and lies. Allah tells us about them (interpretation of the meaning): 
  • Among their characteristics is that they enjoin what is evil and forbid what is good, and they are stingy with their wealth. Allah says concerning them (interpretation of the meaning): 
  • Among their characteristics are greed and avarice: 
  • Among their characteristics are those which were described by the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): 
  • Among their characteristics is a concern with appearances and fancy speech whilst they are inwardly corrupt. Allah says concerning them (interpretation of the meaning): 

{And when it is said to them (hypocrites): ‘Believe as the people (followers of Muhammad, Al-Ansar and Al-Muhajirun) have believed,’ they say: ‘Shall we believe as the fools have believed?’ Verily, they are the fools, but they know not} [al-Baqarah 2:13]

{If good befalls you (O Muhammad), it grieves them, but if a calamity overtakes you, they say: ‘We took our precaution beforehand’ and they turn away rejoicing} [al-Tawbah 9:50]

{If you ask them (about this), they declare: ‘We were only talking idly and joking.’ Say: ‘Was it at Allah, and His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger that you were mocking?’

Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed} [al-Tawbah 9:65-66] 

{And when it is said to them: ‘Make not mischief on the earth,’ they say: ‘We are only peacemakers.’

Verily, they are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not} [al-Baqarah 2:11-12]

{They swear by Allah that they are truly of you while they are not of you, but they are a people (hypocrites) who are afraid (that you may kill them)} [al-Tawbah 9:56] 

{The hypocrites , men and women, are one from another; they enjoin (on the people) Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief and polytheism of all kinds and all that Islam has forbidden), and forbid (people) from Al-Ma‘ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and they close their hands [from giving (spending in Allah’s Cause) alms]. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them. Verily, the hypocrites are the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)} [al-Tawbah 9:67] 

{And of them are some who accuse you (O Muhammad) in the matter of (the distribution of) the alms. If they are given part thereof, they are pleased, but if they are not given thereof, behold! They are enraged!} [al-Tawbah 9: 58 – interpretation of the meaning] 

“There are four (characteristics), whoever has all of them is a complete hypocrite, and whoever has some of them has some element of hypocrisy , unless he gives it up: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a treaty, he betrays it; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; when he quarrels, he resorts to insults.” (Narrated by Muslim, 53) 

{And when you look at them, their bodies please you; and when they speak, you listen to their words. They are as blocks of wood propped up. They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies, so beware of them. May Allah curse them! How are they denying (or deviating from) the Right Path?} [al-Munafiqun 63:4] 

If the disbelievers are obvious enemies from without, then the hypocrites are hidden enemies from within. They are more harmful and more dangerous to the Muslims, because they mix with them and know their situation. Allah has decreed that the ultimate destiny of the disbelievers and hypocrites will be in Hell: 

{Surely, Allah will collect the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell} [al-Nisa 4:140 – interpretation of the meaning] 

Punishment of the hypocrites

But because of the seriousness of the harm they cause, the hypocrites will be in the lowest level of Hell, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

{Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire} [al-Nisa 4:145] 

Because the danger posed to the Muslim ummah by the disbelievers and hypocrites is so great, Allah commanded His Messenger to strive against them: 

{O Prophet (Muhammad)! Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be severe against them; their abode will be Hell, and worst indeed is that destination} [al-Tahrim 66:9 – interpretation of the meaning].


The difference between major hypocrisy and minor hypocrisy


Major hypocrisy is the hypocrisy of one who conceals disbelief whilst making an outward show of being a Muslim. Al-Jarjaani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The hypocrite is the one who is a disbeliever in his heart but pays lip service to faith outwardly. End quote. 

At-Ta‘reefaat, p. 298 

The one who pretends outwardly to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers and the Last Day, whilst inwardly believing that which is contrary to that or part of it, is the hypocrite in the sense of major hypocrisy. 

These are the ones who are referred to in the verse in which Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire” [an-Nisa’ 4:145]. 

Some of the most prominent of their characteristics are lying, treachery, deceit and resorting to foul speech when disputing. 

With regard to minor hypocrisy – which is also called hypocrisy of actions – this refers to hypocrisy in deeds. That is when a person does righteous actions but they do not truly represent what is in his heart, or he behaves differently in private and in public, but that does not have to do with the fundamentals of faith mentioned above. Such a person may fall into one of the branches of hypocrisy of actions, or he may have some of the characteristics of the hypocrites, such as lying, treachery and breaking promises. 

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “There are four characteristics, whoever has them all is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of them has one of the characteristics of hypocrisy, until he gives it up: when he is entrusted with something he betrays that trust, when he speaks he lies, when he makes a covenant he breaks it, and when he disputes he resorts to obscene speech.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (54) and Muslim (58). 

If any of those who believe in Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah) has any of these characteristics, he has fallen into minor hypocrisy to the extent to which he has done such deeds or has that characteristic, because he resembles the hypocrites in some of their actions, even if he is not exactly like them. 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

The word hypocrisy refers to major hypocrisy which means concealing disbelief, or minor hypocrisy which means behaving differently in private and in public with regard to obligatory duties. … This is well known among the scholars and this is how they interpreted the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), “The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks he lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is entrusted with something he betrays that trust.”  Narrated by at-Tirmidhi and others. More than one of the early scholars said: A lesser form of kufr, a lesser form of hypocrisy, a lesser form of shirk. 

Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 11/140 

Al-Haafiz Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

The interpretation given by the respectable scholars is that hypocrisy in the linguistic sense refers to a kind of treachery and betrayal, making an outward display of goodness whilst inwardly concealing the opposite. In Islamic terms it may be divided into two categories, the first of which is major hypocrisy, which is when a person makes an outward show of believing in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers and the Last Day, whilst inwardly concealing the opposite of that in whole or in part. This is the kind of hypocrisy that existed at the time of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and Qur’an was revealed condemning those hypocrites and describing them as disbelievers, and stating that they would be in the lowest level of Hell. The second type of hypocrisy is minor hypocrisy, which is hypocrisy of deeds. That is when a person makes an outward show of being righteous when inwardly he is the opposite of that. 

To sum up, minor hypocrisy refers to behaving differently in private and in public, as was stated by al-Hasan. Minor hypocrisy is a means that may lead to major hypocrisy, just as sins are the harbinger of disbelief. Just as there is the fear that the one who persists in sin may be deprived of faith at the time of death, there is also the fear that the one who persists in one of the characteristics of hypocrisy will be deprived of faith and will become a pure hypocrite. Imam Ahmad was asked: What do you say about one who does not fear hypocrisy for himself? He said: Who can be sure that he is safe from hypocrisy? Al-Hasan used to call the one who did deeds of hypocrisy a hypocrite, and something similar was narrated from Hudhayfah. End quote from Jaami‘ al-‘Uloom wa’l-Hukam, p. 430-434 

If a person has any level of minor hypocrisy and dies in that state, he will not remain in Hell for eternity. Rather the one who will remain in Hell for eternity is the hypocrite in the sense of major hypocrisy. However, minor hypocrisy is a means that may lead to major hypocrisy, as stated above. Hence the Sahaabah and the early generations (may Allah be pleased with them) used to seek refuge with Allah from it. 

Based on that, if any Muslim has any of the characteristics of minor hypocrisy, he is not one of those who will remain in Hell forever; rather he is subject to the will of Allah, may He be exalted, in the Hereafter: if He wills, He will punish him in Hell for his sin, then bring him forth from it because of his belief in Tawheed, or if He wills, He will forgive him from the outset. His situation is like that of sinners among the monotheists. As for the hypocrite in the sense of major hypocrisy, he will abide forever in Hell – we seek refuge with Allah from the Fire. 

 

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