The birds gather again in their circle of knowledge. Shama' said, "All praise and thanks are due to Allah, we praise Him, ask His aid, and ask His forgiveness. We take refuge with Allah from the evil of our souls and the evil of our deeds. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide; and whoever Allah leaves to stray, none can guide.
O my brothers and sisters, we have seen how Ibn Ubayy showed on the stage, shook hands, accompianied by cheek kissing, with Bani Qaynuqa and Bani Nadir. Now, of course, we won't do it , because we know that Allah has said,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَكُمْ هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَالْكُفَّارَ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ
"O you who have believed, take not those who have taken your religion in ridicule and amusement among the ones who were given the Scripture before you nor the disbelievers as allies. And fear Allah, if you should [truly] be believers." - (QS.5:57)
Allah also said,
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَتَّخِذُوۡۤا اٰبَآءَکُمۡ وَ اِخۡوَانَکُمۡ اَوۡلِیَآءَ اِنِ اسۡتَحَبُّوا الۡکُفۡرَ عَلَی الۡاِیۡمَانِ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یَّتَوَلَّہُمۡ مِّنۡکُمۡ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ
"O you who have believed, do not take your fathers or your brothers as allies if they have preferred disbelief over belief. And whoever does so among you - then it is those who are the wrongdoers." - (QS.9:23)
Before Chameleon continues, I want to tell you that in the Qur’an, Allah has revealed the machinations of the hypocrites, He, Subhanhu wa Ta'ala, has unveiled their beliefs, their qualities, and made their goals clear so that the believers can be aware of them. Allah divided mankind into three groups in the beginning of Surah al-Baqarah, the believer; the disbeliever; and the hypocrite. Allah mentioned four verses concerning the believers, two verses concerning the disbelievers, and thirteen verses concerning the hypocrites due to their plenitude and the great harm and tribulation they bring to Islam and the Muslims. The harm they cause to Islam is truly severe for they claim to be Muslims, they claim to aid and support Islam, whereas in reality, they are its enemies seeking to destroy it from within, covertly spreading their corruption and ignorance such that the unwary thinks that what they are upon is knowledge and right action.
By Allah! How many strongholds of Islam have they destroyed; how many fortresses have they rendered to ruin; how many signposts of Islam have they effaced; how many raised flags have they lowered; and how many seeds of doubt have they attempted to sow in order to uproot the religion!
O my brothers and sisters, Islam and the Muslims have always faced trial and tribulation from the hypocrites, wave after wave of doubts do they assault at it, all the while thinking that they are doing right. Allah says,
اَلَاۤ اِنَّہُمۡ ہُمُ الۡمُفۡسِدُوۡنَ وَ لٰکِنۡ لَّا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ
"Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not." - (QS.2:12)
As-Sa'di said, 'It is Allah who has undertaken the task of aiding His religion, perfecting the truth with which He sent His Messengers (ﷺ), and manifesting its light in all regions of the earth, even though the disbelievers hate it. Even though they strive to the utmost of their abilities to extinguish His light, defeat and failure is their fate. They are like a person who blows air with his mouth in the direction of the sun in the hope that he can extinguish its fire: never will he be able to do so, rather he just imputes his own intellect with deficiency and doltishness.' Allah says,
یُرِیۡدُوۡنَ لِیُطۡفِـُٔوۡا نُوۡرَ اللّٰہِ بِاَفۡوَاہِہِمۡ وَ اللّٰہُ مُتِمُّ نُوۡرِہٖ وَ لَوۡ کَرِہَ الۡکٰفِرُوۡنَ
"They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it." - (QS.61:8)
The characteristics of faith are not to be found in their hearts and hence they do not know them; oblivious are they to its pillars and hence do not take care of them; extinguished are the brilliant lights of its stars in their hearts and they do not try to relight them, and the darkness of their thoughts and beliefs has eclipsed the sun of faith such that they no longer see it. They do not accept the guidance of Allah with which He sent His Messengers, they attach no importance to it, and they see nothing wrong in leaving it for their own opinions and beliefs. They have wrenched the texts of revelation of their true status, they have detached them of their importance and definitiveness, and they have submerged them in the obscurity of false interpretations. Subterfuge after subterfuge do they launch against these texts, and it is as if they face them in the same way an unwilling host meets malevolent guests: devoid of acceptance and generosity, all the while forcing himself to host them, yet keeping his distance. They say to these texts, "You have no way to pass by us,’ and if they find no option but to accept them, they do so by propounding multifarious plots and concocting various principles. When these texts find way past their doors, they say, "What have we to do with their literal meanings, they give us no certainty whatsoever!’ and the general masses amongst them say, ‘Sufficient for us is what we find the latter people upon for they were more knowledgeable than the Righteous Predecessors, and firmer and more rightly guided in knowing the proofs and evidences!’ In their view the way of the Salaf is the way of simplicity and soundness of heart because they did not busy themselves with investigating and laying out the principles of rhetoric; instead they merely devoted themselves to doing the obligatory and leaving the prohibited. Therefore the way of the latter people is more deeply rooted in knowledge and wiser whereas the way of the Salaf is greater in ignorance but safer. Allah says,
اُنۡظُرۡ کَیۡفَ یَفۡتَرُوۡنَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ الۡکَذِبَ ؕ وَ کَفٰی بِہٖۤ اِثۡمًا مُّبِیۡنًا
"Look how they invent about Allah untruth, and sufficient is that as a manifest sin." - (QS.4:50)
They treat the texts of the Book and Sunnah like the Khalifah is treated in these times: while his name is written on coins and gains superficial mention in the Friday sermons, he has no real authority and it is other men who govern, his judgment is neither heard nor adhered to. They have donned the robes of the people of faith which cover their hearts of misguidance, deception and disbelief. Their tongues are the tongues of Muslims but their hearts are the hearts of those fighting the Muslims. Allah says,
وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ یَّقُوۡلُ اٰمَنَّا بِاللّٰہِ وَ بِالۡیَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ وَ مَا ہُمۡ بِمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ۘ
"And of the people are some who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day,' but they are not believers." - (QS.2:8)
This verse then describes the first characteristic of hypocrisy, lying. They say with their tongues that which is not in their hearts. This quality is so entrenched in them that even when they spoke words that were true, Allah still called them liars because what they said did not conform to what they believed.
Their capital is deception and scheming, their merchandise is lies and treachery, and their intellect is one that is employed just for this world: believers and disbelievers alike are happy with them and they live in security amongst both. Allah says,
يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
"They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not." - (QS.2:9)
This verse describes the second characteristic of the hypocrites: their ignorance of Allah for they try to deceive One Who cannot be deceived, One Who knows what they manifest and what they hide! This verse also shows their deceptive qualities, their third characteristic, as well as their making mockery of the religion and looking down on it. As-Sa'di said, “Deception is to show the one being deceived, something, and hide the reality in order to reach ones goal. The hypocrites tried to deal with Allah and the believers in this way, but their deception came back on themselves. This is something extraordinary for normally a deceiver will either be successful and see the fruition of his goal, or at least be safe. These hypocrites did what they did, and plotted their plans, but all they succeeded in doing was seal their own destruction.”
The disease of desires and doubts has consumed their hearts and destroyed them, and evil objectives have permeated their motivations and intentions and corrupted them. Their corruption is so severe that they are flung to perdition, and the doctors of the religion are unable to cure them,
فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ مَّرَضٌ ۙ فَزَادَہُمُ اللّٰہُ مَرَضًا ۚ وَ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌۢ ۬ۙ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡذِبُوۡنَ
"In their hearts is disease, so Allah has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie." - (QS.2:10)
This verse describes their fourth characteristic: they are plagued with the disease of doubts and desires. As-Sa'di said, “ The sickness here is the sickness of doubts and desires. The heart is beset by two diseases that eject it from its state of balance and normalcy: the disease of false doubts and the disease of vile desires. Disbelief, hypocrisy, doubts, and bid'ah, all arise from the disease of doubts. Fornication, the love of lewd deeds, and sins all arise from the disease of desire. This verse also shows that it is as a consequence of ones sins that Allah punishes him by afflicting him with more sins.
Whoever falls prey to the claws of their doubts, will have his faith shredded to pieces; whoever allows his heart to open to their vile tribulations, will find himself in a burning furnace; and whoever lends an ear to their deceptions, will find them coming between him and firm belief. Indeed, the corruption they cause on earth, is great but most people are unaware,
وَ اِذَا قِیۡلَ لَہُمۡ لَا تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ۙ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ مُصۡلِحُوۡنَ
"And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, 'We are but reformers.'" - (QS.2:11)
اَلَاۤ اِنَّہُمۡ ہُمُ الۡمُفۡسِدُوۡنَ وَ لٰکِنۡ لَّا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ
"Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not." - (QS.2:12)
This verse describes their fifth characteristic, spreading corruption in the land, a direct consequence of the corruption of their hearts. As-Sa’di said, “ When these hypocrites are prohibited from spreading corruption on the earth, acting by and promoting disbelief and sins, disclosing the plans and secrets of the Muslims to their enemies, and befriending the disbelievers, they say, ‘We are only putting things right.' They combine spreading corruption on earth with making out that they are only putting things right, thereby altering reality and believing the falsehood they are on to be the truth. The crime of these is greater than the crime of one who just commits sins while believing them to be prohibited, for there is more hope that the latter person will retract and return. Now because their saying, ‘We are only putting things right, serves to constrain right deeds to them, implying thereby that the deeds of the believers are not right or corrective; Allah rebuts them by saying, ‘No indeed! Thy are the corrupters for there is no greater corruption than disbelieving in the verses and signs of Allah, preventing people from His Way, trying to deceive Allah and His friends, and befriending the enemies of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ).'
When one of them follows the Book and Sunnah, he is doing so to keep up appearances, he is like a donkey carrying books: it understands none of what it is carrying. The revelation in their eyes is profitless merchandise and as such worthless. Those who truly follow it are fools in their eyes,
وَ اِذَا قِیۡلَ لَہُمۡ اٰمِنُوۡا کَمَاۤ اٰمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُوۡۤا اَنُؤۡمِنُ کَمَاۤ اٰمَنَ السُّفَہَآءُ ؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّہُمۡ ہُمُ السُّفَہَآءُ وَ لٰکِنۡ لَّا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ
"And when it is said to them, 'Believe as the people have believed,' they say, 'Should we believe as the foolish have believed?' Unquestionably, it is they who are the foolish, but they know [it] not." ― (QS. 2:13)
This verse describes their sixth characteristic: their belittling the religion and those who follow it, and their foolishness. As-Sa'di said, “ Allah informs us that they are the true fools, because foolishness is defined by a person not knowing what is good for himself and his pursuing that which would harm him.These qualities are applicable to them. They way of intelligence and insight is for a person to know what is good for him and to pursue it and to repress what would harm him. These qualities are applicable to the Companions and the believers. Consideration is given to reality and not to mere claims and empty words.”
Each one of them has two faces: a face with which he meets the Muslims and a face with which he meets his deviated associates. Each one of them has two tongues: a false tongue with which he meets the Muslims and a true tongue which expresses his actual beliefs,
وَ اِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا قَالُوۡۤا اٰمَنَّا ۚۖ وَ اِذَا خَلَوۡا اِلٰی شَیٰطِیۡنِہِمۡ ۙ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا مَعَکُمۡ ۙ اِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ مُسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡنَ
"And when they meet those who believe, they say, 'We believe'; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, 'Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers.'" ― (QS. 2:14)
This is an example of their heinous lies, saying with their tongues what is not in their hearts, in order to acquire temporal gain. Allah says,
یَّسۡتَخۡفُوۡنَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ لَا یَسۡتَخۡفُوۡنَ مِنَ اللّٰہِ وَ ہُوَ مَعَہُمۡ اِذۡ یُبَیِّتُوۡنَ مَا لَا یَرۡضٰی مِنَ الۡقَوۡلِ ؕ وَ کَانَ اللّٰہُ بِمَا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ مُحِیۡطًا
"They conceal [their evil intentions and deeds] from the people, but they cannot conceal [them] from Allah, and He is with them [in His knowledge] when they spend the night in such as He does not accept of speech. And ever is Allah, of what they do, encompassing." ― (QS. 4:108)
They have turned away from the Book and Sunnah, making mockery of those who follow them and looking down on them. They refuse to submit to the revelation, making do with what knowledge they have: and what knowledge? The increase of which only leads to more evil and arrogance! You will always see them mocking those who follow the clear import of the revelation, but
اَللّٰہُ یَسۡتَہۡزِئُ بِہِمۡ وَ یَمُدُّہُمۡ فِیۡ طُغۡیَانِہِمۡ یَعۡمَہُوۡنَ
"[But] Allah mocks them and prolongs them in their transgression [while] they wander blindly." ― (QS. 2:15)
They ply their trade in oceans of darkness traversing vessels of doubts. Uncertainty and suspicion plagues them as they sail through waves of illusion. Strong winds play havoc with their boats and lead them to their destruction,
اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ اشۡتَرَوُا الضَّلٰلَۃَ بِالۡہُدٰی ۪ فَمَا رَبِحَتۡ تِّجَارَتُہُمۡ وَ مَا کَانُوۡا مُہۡتَدِیۡنَ
"Those are the ones who have purchased error [in exchange] for guidance, so their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided." ― (QS. 2:16)
They desired that misguidance in the same way that a buyer desires a particular commodity so much so that he would give something precious as payment.This is an excellent similitude: misguidance, the worst evil, has been compared to the commodity; and guidance, the best of things, has been compared to the asking price. So they paid the price and gained what they desired, misguidance...what a wretched trade and what a disgraceful bargain! If someone gives a dinar to get back a dirham, he feels that he has lost out, so what of one who gives a diamond and gets in return a dirham?! And what of one who chooses misery and anguish in place of felicity and bliss?!’ Allah, Exalted is He gives an example of such a trade by saying,
اِذۡ یَقُوۡلُ الۡمُنٰفِقُوۡنَ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ مَّرَضٌ غَرَّہٰۤؤُ لَآءِ دِیۡنُہُمۡ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یَّتَوَکَّلۡ عَلَی اللّٰہِ فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَزِیۡزٌ حَکِیۡمٌ
"[Remember] when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was disease said, "Their religion has deluded those [Muslims]." But whoever relies upon Allah - then indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise." ― (QS. 8:49)
The fire of faith alights for them and in its light they perceive guidance and misguidance, then that fire is extinguished and is left as red hot ashes. With that fire are they punished and in that darkness do they wander blindly,
مَثَلُہُمۡ کَمَثَلِ الَّذِی اسۡتَوۡقَدَ نَارًا ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَضَآءَتۡ مَا حَوۡلَہٗ ذَہَبَ اللّٰہُ بِنُوۡرِہِمۡ وَ تَرَکَہُمۡ فِیۡ ظُلُمٰتٍ لَّا یُبۡصِرُوۡنَ
"Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see." ― (QS. 2:17)
The hearing of their hearts is burdened by a heavy load and as such, they are unable to hear the call to faith; the eyes of their spiritual sight are covered with a blinding wrapping such that they cannot see the realities of the Qur’an; and their tongues are mute to the truth such that they are unable to speak it,
صُمٌّۢ بُکۡمٌ عُمۡیٌ فَہُمۡ لَا یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ
"Deaf, dumb and blind - so they will not return [to the right path]." ― (QS. 2:18)
The rain of revelation pours down upon them, it contains life for the hearts and souls, but all they can hear of it, is the thunder strikes of its threats, promises, and ordinances. They thrust their fingers in their ears and draw their garments over them, trying to run in earnest and desperately seeking their footprints so as to retreat. However they are summoned in public, and their secrets are made plain for all who can see, and two parables are propounded for them, each parable unveiling one of the two parties amongst them: those who debate and those who blindly follow.
اَوۡ کَصَیِّبٍ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ فِیۡہِ ظُلُمٰتٌ وَّ رَعۡدٌ وَّ بَرۡقٌ ۚ یَجۡعَلُوۡنَ اَصَابِعَہُمۡ فِیۡۤ اٰذَانِہِمۡ مِّنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الۡمَوۡتِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ مُحِیۡطٌۢ بِالۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ
"Or [it is] like a rainstorm from the sky within which is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps in dread of death. But Allah is encompassing of the disbelievers." ― (QS. 2:19)
Their spiritual sight is too weak to bear what the rain contains: the lightning of its radiant proofs and the brightness of its meanings. Their ears are unable to accept the thunder strikes of its promises, orders, and prohibitions; as such they come to a halt in confusion, their faculty of hearing brings them no benefit and their sight is unable to guide them,
یَکَادُ الۡبَرۡقُ یَخۡطَفُ اَبۡصَارَہُمۡ ؕ کُلَّمَاۤ اَضَآءَ لَہُمۡ مَّشَوۡا فِیۡہِ ٭ۙ وَ اِذَاۤ اَظۡلَمَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ قَامُوۡا ؕ وَ لَوۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ لَذَہَبَ بِسَمۡعِہِمۡ وَ اَبۡصَارِہِمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ قَدِیۡرٌ
"The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Every time it lights [the way] for them, they walk therein; but when darkness comes over them, they stand [still]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent." ― (QS. 2:20)
They have characteristic signs by which they can be known, explained in the Book and the Sunnah, and clear for all those who are enriched with faith to see. They are people, by Allah, given to ostentation, and this is the worst station that man can reach. They are a people prone to laziness and laxity in fulfilling the orders of the All-Merciful, and because of this they find sincerity burdensome,
اِنَّ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ یُخٰدِعُوۡنَ اللّٰہَ وَ ہُوَ خَادِعُہُمۡ ۚ وَ اِذَا قَامُوۡۤا اِلَی الصَّلٰوۃِ قَامُوۡا کُسَالٰی ۙ یُرَآءُوۡنَ النَّاسَ وَ لَا یَذۡکُرُوۡنَ اللّٰہَ اِلَّا قَلِیۡلً
"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." ― (QS. 4:142)
They are like a sheep that has strayed and finds itself between two flocks, it goes to one and then the other, and does not stay with any of them. They are standing between two groups of people, all the while searching as to which is the stronger and nobler,
مُّذَبۡذَبِیۡنَ بَیۡنَ ذٰلِکَ ٭ۖ لَاۤ اِلٰی ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ وَ لَاۤ اِلٰی ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یُّضۡلِلِ اللّٰہُ فَلَنۡ تَجِدَ لَہٗ سَبِیۡلً
"Wavering between them, [belonging] neither to the believers nor to the disbelievers. And whoever Allah leaves astray - never will you find for him a way." ― (QS. 4:143)
They are on the lookout to see what happens to Ahlus-Sunnah; if victory comes their way they say, "Were we not with you?’ and they swear their strongest oaths by Allah on this. If victory goes to the enemies of Ahlus-Sunnah they say to them ‘Do you not know that we have a binding pact of brotherhood with you,’ and they bring their closeness of lineage as proof for this. Allah says,
بَشِّرِ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ بِاَنَّ لَہُمۡ عَذَابًا اَلِیۡمَۨا
"Give tidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painful punishment." ― (QS. 4:138)
الَّذِیۡنَ یَتَّخِذُوۡنَ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ اَوۡلِیَآءَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ؕ اَیَبۡتَغُوۡنَ عِنۡدَہُمُ الۡعِزَّۃَ فَاِنَّ الۡعِزَّۃَ لِلّٰہِ جَمِیۡعًا
"Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor [through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allah entirely." ― (QS. 4:139)
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الۡیَہُوۡدَ وَ النَّصٰرٰۤی اَوۡلِیَآءَ ۘؔ بَعۡضُہُمۡ اَوۡلِیَآءُ بَعۡضٍ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یَّتَوَلَّہُمۡ مِّنۡکُمۡ فَاِنَّہٗ مِنۡہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَہۡدِی الۡقَوۡمَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ
"O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people." ― (QS. 5:51)
فَتَرَی الَّذِیۡنَ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ مَّرَضٌ یُّسَارِعُوۡنَ فِیۡہِمۡ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ نَخۡشٰۤی اَنۡ تُصِیۡبَنَا دَآئِرَۃٌ ؕ فَعَسَی اللّٰہُ اَنۡ یَّاۡتِیَ بِالۡفَتۡحِ اَوۡ اَمۡرٍ مِّنۡ عِنۡدِہٖ فَیُصۡبِحُوۡا عَلٰی مَاۤ اَسَرُّوۡا فِیۡۤ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ نٰدِمِیۡنَ
"So you see those in whose hearts is disease hastening into [association with] them, saying, "We are afraid a misfortune may strike us." But perhaps Allah will bring conquest or a decision from Him, and they will become, over what they have been concealing within themselves, regretful." ― (QS. 5:52)
Whoever wishes to know them, let him take their descriptions from the words of the Rabb of the worlds, and after that, he will require no further proof,
الَّذِیۡنَ یَتَرَبَّصُوۡنَ بِکُمۡ ۚ فَاِنۡ کَانَ لَکُمۡ فَتۡحٌ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ قَالُوۡۤا اَلَمۡ نَکُنۡ مَّعَکُمۡ ۫ۖ وَ اِنۡ کَانَ لِلۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ نَصِیۡبٌ ۙ قَالُوۡۤا اَلَمۡ نَسۡتَحۡوِذۡ عَلَیۡکُمۡ وَ نَمۡنَعۡکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ؕ فَاللّٰہُ یَحۡکُمُ بَیۡنَکُمۡ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ ؕ وَ لَنۡ یَّجۡعَلَ اللّٰہُ لِلۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ عَلَی الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ سَبِیۡلً
"Those who wait [and watch] you. Then if you gain a victory from Allah, they say, "Were we not with you?" But if the disbelievers have a success, they say [to them], "Did we not gain the advantage over you, but we protected you from the believers?" Allah will judge between [all of] you on the Day of Resurrection, and never will Allah give the disbelievers over the believers a way [to overcome them]." ― (QS. 4:141)
One who listens to them, will be astounded by the silkiness and softness of their speech, he will bring Allah to witness for what is in his heart of lies and deceit,
وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ یُّعۡجِبُکَ قَوۡلُہٗ فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا وَ یُشۡہِدُ اللّٰہَ عَلٰی مَا فِیۡ قَلۡبِہٖ ۙ وَ ہُوَ اَلَدُّ الۡخِصَامِ
"And of the people is he whose speech pleases you in worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the fiercest of opponents." ― (QS. 2:204)
What they enjoin upon their followers entails corrupting them and spreading corruption in the land. What they prohibit their followers from entails what would be better for them in this life and the Hereafter. You would see one of them amongst the believers praying and remembering Allah but,
وَ اِذَا تَوَلّٰی سَعٰی فِی الۡاَرۡضِ لِیُفۡسِدَ فِیۡہَا وَ یُہۡلِکَ الۡحَرۡثَ وَ النَّسۡلَ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ لَا یُحِبُّ الۡفَسَادَ
"And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allah does not like corruption." ― (QS. 2:205)
They are all similar, enjoining the evil after having committed it themselves and prohibiting the good after having left it themselves. They are miserly in giving their wealth in the way of Allah, in ways that He loves it to be spent. How many times has Allah reminded them of the blessings He has conferred upon them yet they turn away and abandon Him! Listen, believers, to what He says about them,
اَلۡمُنٰفِقُوۡنَ وَ الۡمُنٰفِقٰتُ بَعۡضُہُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡضٍ ۘ یَاۡمُرُوۡنَ بِالۡمُنۡکَرِ وَ یَنۡہَوۡنَ عَنِ الۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ وَ یَقۡبِضُوۡنَ اَیۡدِیَہُمۡ ؕ نَسُوا اللّٰہَ فَنَسِیَہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ ہُمُ الۡفٰسِقُوۡنَ
"The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them [accordingly]. Indeed, the hypocrites - it is they who are the defiantly disobedient." ― (QS. 9:67)
If you invite them to judge by the clear import of the revelation, you will see them turn away in aversion. If you could see their reality you would see a vast gulf between them and the truth, and you would see the stringency with which they turn away from the revelation.
وَ اِذَا قِیۡلَ لَہُمۡ تَعَالَوۡا اِلٰی مَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ وَ اِلَی الرَّسُوۡلِ رَاَیۡتَ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ یَصُدُّوۡنَ عَنۡکَ صُدُوۡدًا
"And when it is said to them, 'Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger,' you see the hypocrites turning away from you in aversion." ― (QS. 4:61)
How can they be successful and guided after their intellects and religion have been afflicted so, truly unlikely is it that they will be saved from the mire and misguidance they are in. They have bought disbelief at the expense of faith and what trade is there as profidess as this?! They have exchanged the choicest sealed wine for blazing fire,
فَکَیۡفَ اِذَاۤ اَصَابَتۡہُمۡ مُّصِیۡبَۃٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتۡ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ ثُمَّ جَآءُوۡکَ یَحۡلِفُوۡنَ ٭ۖ بِاللّٰہِ اِنۡ اَرَدۡنَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اِحۡسَانًا وَّ تَوۡفِیۡقًا
"So how [will it be] when disaster strikes them because of what their hands have put forth and then they come to you swearing by Allah, 'We intended nothing but good conduct and accommodation.'" ― (QS. 4:62)
The vileness of doubts and suspicion cling firmly to their hearts and they can find no way of absolution from them,
اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَعۡلَمُ اللّٰہُ مَا فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ ٭ فَاَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡہُمۡ وَ عِظۡہُمۡ وَ قُلۡ لَّہُمۡ فِیۡۤ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ قَوۡلًۢا بَلِیۡغًا
"Those are the ones of whom Allah knows what is in their hearts, so turn away from them but admonish them and speak to them a far-reaching word." ― (QS. 4:63)
May they perish! How distant they are from the reality of faith and how false their claim to cognisance is! They are one thing and the followers of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) are something totally different.
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,
