Description of the
Hypocrites
Al-Hasan (rh) said: “It has been
(accurately) stated that an-Nifaaq (hypocrisy) is when the hidden
intention is different than the outwardly performed deeds; when the
inner belief and words are the opposite and contrary to the publicly
stated proclamations, and what is held in is from what comes out.”
And it used to be said: ‘The foundation of Nifaaq, which it is
sustained by, is: Lying.”
Al-Hasan (rh) also said: “People are of three types: a Mu’min
(believer), a Munaafiq (hypocrite) and a Kaafir (disbeliever). As
for the Mu’min, he is one who acts in obedience to Allah’s orders.
Allah has put the Kaafir to humiliation (by leaving him in
Disbelief) as we all recognize. As for the Munaafiq, he is here (Mu’min)
and there (Kafir). We seek refuge with Allah from this. By Allah
they (hypocrites) do not know their Lord. They reject Allah with the
evil deeds they perform. They are cynical, lacking in knowledge and
distant from the Sunnah. "Truly! To Allâh we belong and truly, to
Him we shall return. (Inna lillahi wa inna llaihi raji'un). They are
lost and in drunkenness. They cannot claim ignorance because they
are neither Jew, Christian, or Zoroastrian (i.e. they know what
Islam calls to).”
Al-Hasan (rh) also said: “Two innovated practices (and attitudes)
have been introduced into Islam. The first is that a man with an
evil opinion claims that paradise is for those who take his point of
view as the truth. He draws his sword (fights for his invalid
opinion) and draws the blood of the Muslims and deems taking their
property as lawful. The other is a man who worships the Duniyaa
(worldly life). He becomes angry and fights others due to it,
seeking nothing but it. SubhanAlalah! Malicious hypocrites who have
set upon it have set upon this Ummah…”
Wahb bin Munabih (rh) said: “A Munaafiq will have these traits:
1. His greeting is a curse in disguise
2. His food is from unlawful means
3. His spoils are stolen property
4. His days are full of clamor
5. His nights are full of austerity.”
Abee ash-Sha‘thaa’ (rh) said: “A group of people from Iraq entered
upon ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) and they began to
defame Yazeed bin Mu‘awiyah (rh). So Ibn ‘Umar (radyAllaahu ‘anhu)
said to them: ‘You say this before me, but do you dare say these
words to his face?’ They replied: ‘No (we would not defame him to
his face). We praise him and speak highly of him in front of him.’
Ibn ‘Umar (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) said: ‘We count that as Nifaaq
(hypocrisy).’” [Ahmad]
Ibraheem bin Nasheet said: “I heard ‘Umar the servant of Ghafrah
say: ‘The furthest people from Nifaaq, and those who fear it the
most, are those who feel that they can not be saved from it. The
closest people to Nifaaq are those who when they are praised for
that which they are unworthy of their heart feels joy and
contentment.’
He then said: ‘If you are praised with that which you are unworthy
of then say: O Allah grant me forgiveness for that which they do not
know (about me) and do not hold me to account for that which they
say about me (praise me with). Surely You Know and they know not.” [Sifat-ul-Munaafiqeen
] |
