Shama' continued, "Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, has taken an oath in His Book upon Himself; the greatness of which will be realised by those endowed with spiritual insight, those whose hearts are fearful of Him by way of magnification and exaltadon. Allah, Exalted is He, says, warning His friends and alerting us to the state of these people,
فَلَا وَ رَبِّکَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ حَتّٰی یُحَکِّمُوۡکَ فِیۡمَا شَجَرَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا یَجِدُوۡا فِیۡۤ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَیۡتَ وَ یُسَلِّمُوۡا تَسۡلِیۡمً
"But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission." ― (QS. 4:65)
You will find one of them taking oaths before commencing his words, without anyone even objecting to what he says, because he knows that the hearts of the believers do not find tranquillity in what he says. Allah says,
یَحۡلِفُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ لَکُمۡ لِیُرۡضُوۡکُمۡ ۚ وَ اللّٰہُ وَ رَسُوۡلُہٗۤ اَحَقُّ اَنۡ یُّرۡضُوۡہُ اِنۡ کَانُوۡا مُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ
"They swear by Allah to you [Muslims] to satisfy you. But Allah and His Messenger are more worthy for them to satisfy, if they should be believers." ― (QS. 9:62)
اَلَمۡ یَعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّہٗ مَنۡ یُّحَادِدِ اللّٰہَ وَ رَسُوۡلَہٗ فَاَنَّ لَہٗ نَارَ جَہَنَّمَ خَالِدًا فِیۡہَا ؕ ذٰلِکَ الۡخِزۡیُ الۡعَظِیۡمُ
"Do they not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger - that for him is the fire of Hell, wherein he will abide eternally? That is the great disgrace." ― (QS. 9:63)
Therefore, he uses the oath as a way of securing himself from any suspicions that may come his way. It is in the same way that people given to doubts and misgivings lie, making oaths in order to beguile the listener into thinking they are telling the truth,
اِتَّخَذُوۡۤا اَیۡمَانَہُمۡ جُنَّۃً فَصَدُّوۡا عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ سَآءَ مَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ
"They have taken their oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allah . Indeed, it was evil that they were doing." ― (QS. 63:2)
May they perish! They embarked upon the journey across the great white plain with the caravan of faith, then seeing the length of the journey and how far its destination was, they turned on their heels and returned. They think they have found a good life and they sleep comfortably in their beds, but neither in that life have they really lived, and neither in that slumber have they found any real benefit. It is not long till when a caller will give a single cry and they will all stand forth, leaving their life behind, hungry, not feeling any form of satiation... what will their state be at the time of the Meeting? They knew then they rejected, they saw the truth then they became blinded to it,
ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمۡ اٰمَنُوۡا ثُمَّ کَفَرُوۡا فَطُبِعَ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ فَہُمۡ لَا یَفۡقَہُوۡنَ
"That is because they believed, and then they disbelieved; so their hearts were sealed over, and they do not understand." ― (QS. 63:3)
The best of men in physical appearance, the most enchanting of tongues, the nicest words, yet the most vile of hearts. They are like propped up planks of wood devoid of fruit. They have been severed from the source of their growth and as such rest on a wall to keep them upright so that people do not walk over them.
وَ اِذَا رَاَیۡتَہُمۡ تُعۡجِبُکَ اَجۡسَامُہُمۡ ؕ وَ اِنۡ یَّقُوۡلُوۡا تَسۡمَعۡ لِقَوۡلِہِمۡ ؕ کَاَنَّہُمۡ خُشُبٌ مُّسَنَّدَۃٌ ؕ یَحۡسَبُوۡنَ کُلَّ صَیۡحَۃٍ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ ہُمُ الۡعَدُوُّ فَاحۡذَرۡہُمۡ ؕ قٰتَلَہُمُ اللّٰہُ ۫ اَنّٰی یُؤۡفَکُوۡنَ
"And when you see them, their forms please you, and if they speak, you listen to their speech. [They are] as if they were pieces of wood propped up - they think that every shout is against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?" ― (QS. 63:4)
They delay the prayer to the last possible time: Fajr at sunrise and 'Asr at sunset at which time they quickly peck the ground as does a crow. This is because their prayer is a prayer in body but not of heart. Allah says,
وَ اِذَا نَادَیۡتُمۡ اِلَی الصَّلٰوۃِ اتَّخَذُوۡہَا ہُزُوًا وَّ لَعِبًا ؕ ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمۡ قَوۡمٌ لَّا یَعۡقِلُوۡنَ
"And when you call to prayer, they take it in ridicule and amusement. That is because they are a people who do not use reason." ― (QS. 5:58)
While praying, they look left and right as does a fox being certain that it is being hunted and chased. They do not attend the congregational prayer, rather they make do with praying in their homes or shops.
When they argue, they behave uncouthly, when they are entrusted with something, they break the trust, when they speak they lie, and when they promise they break it. This is how they deal with creation and Creator. Read their descriptions in the beginning of al-Mutaffijin and the end of at-Tariq for none can describe to you the characteristics of someone better than the One Who knows him well,
یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّبِیُّ جَاہِدِ الۡکُفَّارَ وَ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ وَ اغۡلُظۡ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ وَ مَاۡوٰىہُمۡجَہَنَّمُ ؕ وَ بِئۡسَ الۡمَصِیۡرُ
"O Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination." ― (QS. 66:9)
They may think they are many, but in reality, they are few. They may think, they are strong, but in reality, they are weak and despicable. They are ignoramuses, thinking themselves high and mighty. They are misled about Allah for they are ignorant of His greatness,
وَ یَحۡلِفُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ اِنَّہُمۡ لَمِنۡکُمۡ ؕ وَ مَا ہُمۡ مِّنۡکُمۡ وَ لٰکِنَّہُمۡ قَوۡمٌ یَّفۡرَقُوۡنَ
"And they swear by Allah that they are from among you while they are not from among you; but they are a people who are afraid." ― (QS. 9:56)
لَوۡ یَجِدُوۡنَ مَلۡجَاً اَوۡ مَغٰرٰتٍ اَوۡ مُدَّخَلًا لَّوَلَّوۡا اِلَیۡہِ وَ ہُمۡ یَجۡمَحُوۡنَ
"If they could find a refuge or some caves or any place to enter [and hide], they would turn to it while they run heedlessly." ― (QS. 9:57)
When Ahlus-Sunnah meet with easy times, aid and victory, hard does it bear down on them and depressed do they become; and when Ahlus-Sunnah meet with straitened times and are tried by Allah so that their sins may be expiated, jubilant do they become and exultant. This is their legacy and in no way do those who inherit from the Messenger (ﷺ) compare to those who inherit from the hypocrites,
اِنۡ تُصِبۡکَ حَسَنَۃٌ تَسُؤۡہُمۡ ۚ وَ اِنۡ تُصِبۡکَ مُصِیۡبَۃٌ یَّقُوۡلُوۡا قَدۡ اَخَذۡنَاۤ اَمۡرَنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَ یَتَوَلَّوۡا وَّ ہُمۡ فَرِحُوۡنَ
"If good befalls you, it distresses them; but if disaster strikes you, they say, "We took our matter [in hand] before," and turn away while they are rejoicing." ― (QS. 9:50)
قُلۡ لَّنۡ یُّصِیۡبَنَاۤ اِلَّا مَا کَتَبَ اللّٰہُ لَنَا ۚ ہُوَ مَوۡلٰىنَا ۚ وَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ فَلۡیَتَوَکَّلِ الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ
"Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allah let the believers rely." ― (QS. 9:51)
اِنۡ تَمۡسَسۡکُمۡ حَسَنَۃٌ تَسُؤۡہُمۡ ۫ وَ اِنۡ تُصِبۡکُمۡ سَیِّئَۃٌ یَّفۡرَحُوۡا بِہَا ؕ وَ اِنۡ تَصۡبِرُوۡا وَ تَتَّقُوۡا لَا یَضُرُّکُمۡ کَیۡدُہُمۡ شَیۡـًٔا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ بِمَا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ مُحِیۡطٌ
"If good touches you, it distresses them; but if harm strikes you, they rejoice at it. And if you are patient and fear Allah, their plot will not harm you at all. Indeed, Allah is encompassing of what they do." ― (QS. 3:120)
Allah abhors their obeying Him because of the filth of their hearts and impure intentions; as such He held them back and impeded them from obeying Him. He hates to have them close to Him and in His vicinity due to their love of His enemies; as such He distanced them and discarded them. They turned away from His revelation so He turned away from them and decreed misery for them. He judged them with pure justice and they have no hope for victory unless they become of the penitent,
وَ لَوۡ اَرَادُوا الۡخُرُوۡجَ لَاَعَدُّوۡا لَہٗ عُدَّۃً وَّ لٰکِنۡ کَرِہَ اللّٰہُ انۡۢبِعَاثَہُمۡ فَثَبَّطَہُمۡ وَ قِیۡلَ اقۡعُدُوۡا مَعَ الۡقٰعِدِیۡنَ
"And if they had intended to go forth, they would have prepared for it [some] preparation. But Allah disliked their being sent, so He kept them back, and they were told, 'Remain [behind] with those who remain.'" ― (QS. 9:46)
Then Allah mentions the wisdom behind His doing what has previously been mentioned, He is the Wisest of the wise,
لَوۡ خَرَجُوۡا فِیۡکُمۡ مَّا زَادُوۡکُمۡ اِلَّا خَبَالًا وَّ لَا۠اَوۡضَعُوۡا خِلٰلَکُمۡ یَبۡغُوۡنَکُمُ الۡفِتۡنَۃَ ۚ وَ فِیۡکُمۡ سَمّٰعُوۡنَ لَہُمۡ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیۡمٌۢ بِالظّٰلِمِیۡنَ
"Had they gone forth with you, they would not have increased you except in confusion, and they would have been active among you, seeking [to cause] you fitnah. And among you are avid listeners to them. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers." ― (QS. 9:47)
Allah mentions one such example of how some listened to the hypocrites,
فَمَا لَکُمۡ فِی الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ فِئَتَیۡنِ وَ اللّٰہُ اَرۡکَسَہُمۡ بِمَا کَسَبُوۡا ؕ اَتُرِیۡدُوۡنَ اَنۡ تَہۡدُوۡا مَنۡ اَضَلَّ اللّٰہُ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یُّضۡلِلِ اللّٰہُ فَلَنۡ تَجِدَ لَہٗ سَبِیۡلً
"What is [the matter] with you [that you are] two groups concerning the hypocrites, while Allah has made them fall back [into error and disbelief] for what they earned. Do you wish to guide those whom Allah has sent astray? And he whom Allah sends astray - never will you find for him a way [of guidance]." ― (QS. 4:88)
The texts of the revelation bore down heavily on them so they found them abhorrent, and being unable to carry them, they renounced them. They were unable to preserve the Sunnah so they ignored it. They found the texts of the Book and Sunnah combating their desires so they laid down laws and principles by which they could reject them or weaken them. Allah has unveiled their secrets and propounded parables for them. Know that each generation that succeeds them is like them and so He has described them for His friends that they may be aware of them. He says,
ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمۡ کَرِہُوۡا مَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ فَاَحۡبَطَ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ
"That is because they disliked what Allah revealed, so He rendered worthless their deeds." ― (QS. 47:9)
This holds true for all who find the texts burdensome and see them coming between him and his innovations and desires; it seems to him that he has come across an unbreakable solid structure, so he trades them for false rhetoric, exchanging reality for illusion. This leading to the corruption of his inner and outer,
ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمۡ قَالُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ کَرِہُوۡا مَا نَزَّلَ اللّٰہُ سَنُطِیۡعُکُمۡ فِیۡ بَعۡضِ الۡاَمۡرِ ۚۖ وَ اللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ اِسۡرَارَہُمۡ
"That is because they said to those who disliked what Allah sent down, "We will obey you in part of the matter." And Allah knows what they conceal." ― (QS. 47:26)
فَکَیۡفَ اِذَا تَوَفَّتۡہُمُ الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃُ یَضۡرِبُوۡنَ وُجُوۡہَہُمۡ وَ اَدۡبَارَہُمۡ
"Then how [will it be] when the angels take them in death, striking their faces and their backs?" ― (QS. 47:27)
ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمُ اتَّبَعُوۡا مَاۤ اَسۡخَطَ اللّٰہَ وَ کَرِہُوۡا رِضۡوَانَہٗ فَاَحۡبَطَ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ
"That is because they followed what angered Allah and disliked [what earns] His pleasure, so He rendered worthless their deeds." ― (QS. 47:28)
They think that if they hide their disbelief and display their faith, they will have acquired a great profit, but how can this be so when the All-Seeing has unveiled their secrets?
اَمۡ حَسِبَ الَّذِیۡنَ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ مَّرَضٌ اَنۡ لَّنۡ یُّخۡرِجَ اللّٰہُ اَضۡغَانَہُمۡ
"Or do those in whose hearts is disease think that Allah would never expose their [feelings of] hatred?" ― (QS. 47:29)
وَ لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَاَرَیۡنٰکَہُمۡ فَلَعَرَفۡتَہُمۡ بِسِیۡمٰہُمۡ ؕ وَ لَتَعۡرِفَنَّہُمۡ فِیۡ لَحۡنِ الۡقَوۡلِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ اَعۡمَالَکُمۡ
"And if We willed, We could show them to you, and you would know them by their mark; but you will surely know them by the tone of [their] speech. And Allah knows your deeds." ― (QS. 47:30)
How will they be when they are gathered on the Day of at-Talaq, and Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, manifests Himself and uncovers His shin? The Day when they are called to prostrate, but are unable,
خَاشِعَۃً اَبۡصَارُہُمۡ تَرۡہَقُہُمۡ ذِلَّۃٌ ؕ وَ قَدۡ کَانُوۡا یُدۡعَوۡنَ اِلَی السُّجُوۡدِ وَ ہُمۡ سٰلِمُوۡنَ
"Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound." ― (QS. 68:43)
How will they be when they are gathered together to traverse the Bridge spanning Hell? A bridge finer than a blade of hair and sharper than the edge of a sword, easy to slip off, entrenched in darkness and none can cross it save those guided by a light that shows them where to place their feet. Light is apportioned amongst man, the intensity of light each person has governs the swiftness by which he will cross that bridge. They are given a superficial light with which they accompany the Muslims, just as they used to accompany the Muslims in this life: outwardly praying, giving wealth-tax, performing the pilgrimage, and fasting. When they reach the middle of the bridge their light is blown out by the sharp wind of hypocrisy and they come to a halt in utter confusion, not knowing how to proceed. A wall containing a door is placed between them and the believers, the believers side of which contains mercy, while the side upon which they find themselves in contains punishment. They cry out to the believers, who in the distance sparkle like stars, so that we may cross this bridge in safety.
یَوۡمَ یَقُوۡلُ الۡمُنٰفِقُوۡنَ وَ الۡمُنٰفِقٰتُ لِلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا انۡظُرُوۡنَا نَقۡتَبِسۡ مِنۡ نُّوۡرِکُمۡ ۚ قِیۡلَ ارۡجِعُوۡا وَرَآءَکُمۡ فَالۡتَمِسُوۡا نُوۡرًا ؕ فَضُرِبَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ بِسُوۡرٍ لَّہٗ بَابٌ ؕ بَاطِنُہٗ فِیۡہِ الرَّحۡمَۃُ وَ ظَاہِرُہٗ مِنۡ قِبَلِہِ الۡعَذَابُ
"On the [same] Day the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to those who believed, "Wait for us that we may acquire some of your light." It will be said, "Go back behind you and seek light." And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment." ― (QS. 57:13)
They must go back to where the light was first apportioned. Never will any one stop to aid them in such a situation! None will assist another on that path, and a close friend will not turn to aid his friend. They will remind the believers that they accompanied them in this life, just as a wayfarer reminds the resident that he accompanied him on his journey,
یُنَادُوۡنَہُمۡ اَلَمۡ نَکُنۡ مَّعَکُمۡ ؕ قَالُوۡا بَلٰی وَ لٰکِنَّکُمۡ فَتَنۡتُمۡ اَنۡفُسَکُمۡ وَ تَرَبَّصۡتُمۡ وَ ارۡتَبۡتُمۡ وَ غَرَّتۡکُمُ الۡاَمَانِیُّ حَتّٰی جَآءَ اَمۡرُ اللّٰہِ وَ غَرَّکُمۡ بِاللّٰہِ الۡغَرُوۡرُ
"The hypocrites will call to the believers, 'Were we not with you?' They will say, 'Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allah. And the Deceiver deceived you concerning Allah.'" ― (QS. 57:14)
فَالۡیَوۡمَ لَا یُؤۡخَذُ مِنۡکُمۡ فِدۡیَۃٌ وَّ لَا مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا ؕ مَاۡوٰىکُمُ النَّارُ ؕ ہِیَ مَوۡلٰىکُمۡ ؕ وَ بِئۡسَ الۡمَصِیۡرُ
"So today no ransom will be taken from you or from those who disbelieved. Your refuge is the Fire. It is most worthy of you, and wretched is the destination." ― (QS. 57:15)
The hypocrites said, "We fasted with you, prayed with you, recited the Qur'an with you, and performed the pilgrimage with you; why have we been separated from you!" They will reply, "Your bodies were with us, but your hearts were with every deviant and every disbelieving tyrant."
The descriptions of these people are numerous. One could almost say that the whole Qur'an is about them due to their plenitude on the face of this earth and in its belly, namely their graves. There is not a single place on earth except that they are to be found therein. Hudhayfah once heard a person saying, ‘O Allah, destroy the hypocrites!’ He said, ‘Son of my brother, were He to destroy the hypocrites, you would find yourself walking down roads alone, because hardly anybody would be left!’
By Allah, the hearts of the Righteous Predecessors lived in dread of hypocrisy because they knew its major and minor manifestations, they knew is generalities and its details, and they thought little of themselves to the point that they feared being one of the hypocrites. 'Umar bin al-Khattab said to Hudhayfah, ‘I ask you by Allah, did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) count me as one of them?’ He replied, ‘No, and I will not answer this question for any other after you.’ Ibn Abl Mulaykah said, ‘I met thirty Companions of Muhammad (ﷺ), and found all of them fearing hypocrisy for himself, and not one of them said that his faith was like the faith of Jibril and Mika’il,’ (recorded by Bukhari).
He also recorded that al-Hasan al-Basrl said, ‘None feels safe from hypocrisy except a hypocrite, and none fears it save a believer.’ One of the Companions supplicated thus, ‘Allah, I take refuge with you from hypocritical submissiveness.’ When asked what it was he replied, ‘That the body be seen to be submissive but the heart is not.’
By Allah, their hearts were overflowing with faith and certainty, yet their fear of hypocrisy was great. The faith of many people does not even begin to compare to theirs, yet they claim that their faith is like that of Jibril and Mikail!
The plant of hypocrisy grows from two stems: lying and ostentation. It grows out of two sources: weakness of spiritual insight and weakness of resolution. When these four factors exist, the plant of hypocrisy flourishes and grows firm. However, it grows by the side of waters on the brink of a crumbling precipice, so when they see the flood of reality on the Day when all secrets are disclosed, and the graves are emptied out, and the heart’s contents are brought to light, the one whose capital was hypocrisy will discover that all he attained was a mirage,
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡۤا اَعۡمَالُہُمۡ کَسَرَابٍۭ بِقِیۡعَۃٍ یَّحۡسَبُہُ الظَّمۡاٰنُ مَآءً ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا جَآءَہٗ لَمۡ یَجِدۡہُ شَیۡئًا وَّ وَجَدَ اللّٰہَ عِنۡدَہٗ فَوَفّٰىہُ حِسَابَہٗ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ سَرِیۡعُ الۡحِسَابِ
"But those who disbelieved - their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing but finds Allah before Him, and He will pay him in full his due; and Allah is swift in account." ― (QS. 24:39)
Their hearts are heedless of performing good, but their bodies outwardly do so, and indecent deeds are frequently performed by them. When they hear the truth, their hearts are too hard to accept it, but when they witness falsehood and hear fallacy, their hearts openly accept it and they lend a willing ear.
By Allah, these are the signs of hypocrisy, so beware of them! Beware of them before the judgment comes upon you: when they are entrusted with something they break the trust, when they promise they break it, when they speak they are not fair and just, when they are called to obedience they falter, when they are called to what Allah has revealed and to His Messenger they turn away, but when it suits their whims and desires they rush to it. Leave them to the subjugation and misery they have chosen for themselves, rely not on their contracts and trust not
in their promises for they are liars,
وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ عٰہَدَ اللّٰہَ لَئِنۡ اٰتٰىنَا مِنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَ لَنَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ
"And among them are those who made a covenant with Allah, [saying], 'If He should give us from His bounty, we will surely spend in charity, and we will surely be among the righteous.'" ― (QS. 9:75)
فَلَمَّاۤ اٰتٰہُمۡ مِّنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ بَخِلُوۡا بِہٖ وَ تَوَلَّوۡا وَّ ہُمۡ مُّعۡرِضُوۡنَ
"But when he gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused." ― (QS. 9:76)
فَاَعۡقَبَہُمۡ نِفَاقًا فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ یَلۡقَوۡنَہٗ بِمَاۤ اَخۡلَفُوا اللّٰہَ مَا وَعَدُوۡہُ وَ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡذِبُوۡنَ
"So He penalized them with hypocrisy in their hearts until the Day they will meet Him - because they failed Allah in what they promised Him and because they [habitually] used to lie." ― (QS. 9:77)
Peace and Blessings be upon our beloved Prophet (ﷺ), his Family and his Companions. And Allah knows best."
