Friday, August 9, 2019

Hypocrisy (5)

Then Shama' said to Chameleon, "Please, go on my brother!" Chameleon continued by saying, "Know O my brothers and sisters, the hypocrites always ridiculing, taunting, blaming and maling jokes of someone. To make jokes or taunt the Muslims, is the work of the hypocrites. The hypocrites did that even in the Prophet (ﷺ) times. During the Battle of Tabuk, the Muslims were in dire need of monetary help. When the Prophet (ﷺ) appealed for contribution, Abu Bakr brought everything he possessed, Umar brought hold of his possessions and Uthman donated hundreds of well-equipped camels for Allah's cause. The Prophet (ﷺ) remarked that if Uthman did nothing, after that then that single deed from him was enough. Some of the Sahabah engaged in manual labour and contributed their wages to the cause. But, instead of spending for this cause, the hypocrites made fun of the Muslims. Abu Mas’ud said, "When we were commanded to give the Sadaqah, we were labourers. Abu Aqil came with half a Sa‘ of dates and another man (Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf), brought more than that, the hypocrites exclaimed ‘Surely Allah is in no need of this Sadaqah, and this second one has not done it but to show off.' This verse was then revealed,
اَلَّذِیۡنَ یَلۡمِزُوۡنَ الۡمُطَّوِّعِیۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ فِی الصَّدَقٰتِ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَجِدُوۡنَ اِلَّا جُہۡدَہُمۡ فَیَسۡخَرُوۡنَ مِنۡہُمۡ ؕ سَخِرَ اللّٰہُ مِنۡہُمۡ ۫ وَ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ
"Those who criticize the contributors among the believers concerning [their] charities and [criticize] the ones who find nothing [to spend] except their effort, so they ridicule them - Allah will ridicule them, and they will have a painful punishment." - (QS.9:79)
There are people today who make fun of Muslims who adhere to the dictates of Islam and give charity, are inclined to piety, offer the Salaah, wear garments according to the Shari'ah, grow the beard or take part in Jihad. If a woman uses the veil, they taunt her and say that these are old fashioned people. They consider themselves as modern. But, they will not hear anything against the disbelievers who are their ideal. The Muslims should be careful of these people. The disbelievers do not cause harm to the Muslims as much as these people cause.

The hypocrites always making fun of the Qur'an and Sunnah. With the increase of hypocrisy in him, the hypocrite finds the Islamic ordinances and teachings, a burden on him and he begins to abandon them. He begins to make fun of them. He cares not for the Qur'an or the Sunnah the pious people or the hereafter. He as a plethora of excuses with him.

The hypocrites who lived with the Prophet (ﷺ), used to pray the Salaah with him and also to fast, make the pilgrimage, pay the Zakah and even wage jihad with him (ﷺ). When they did something wrong, Allah bracketed their evil with disbelief. Allah said,

وَ لَئِنۡ سَاَلۡتَہُمۡ لَیَقُوۡلُنَّ اِنَّمَا کُنَّا نَخُوۡضُ وَ نَلۡعَبُ ؕ قُلۡ اَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ اٰیٰتِہٖ وَ رَسُوۡلِہٖ کُنۡتُمۡ تَسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡنَ
"And if you ask them, they will surely say, 'We were only conversing and playing.' Say, 'Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?'" - (QS.9:65)
لَا تَعۡتَذِرُوۡا قَدۡ کَفَرۡتُمۡ بَعۡدَ اِیۡمَانِکُمۡ ؕ اِنۡ نَّعۡفُ عَنۡ طَآئِفَۃٍ مِّنۡکُمۡ نُعَذِّبۡ طَآئِفَۃًۢ بِاَنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا مُجۡرِمِیۡنَ
"Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals." - (QS.9:66)
This verse was revealed during the battle of Tabuk concerning the hypocrites. Abdullah Ibn Umar, radhiyallahu 'anhu, narrated, "A man participating in the battle of Tabuk said to a gathering, 'I have not seen anyone like these reciters of the Qur'an more lying with their tongues, more cowardly in the face of the enemy.' Another man ejaculated, "You lie. Rather, you are a hypocrite. Indeed, I will inform Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (about it)." So, that was conveyed to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and the Qur'an was revealed."
Abdullah Ibn Umar continued to narrate, "I saw him hanging by the rope of the Prophet's (ﷺ) she-camel, the stones having wounded his feet and he was pleading 'O Messenger's of Allah, we were merely jesting and playing." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was saying, 'Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you made fun of? Make no excuses. You became disbelievers after you professed faith. If we forgive some of you, we shall punish some others, because they were guilty."

There is a second incident too. Qatadah said about verse 65 of at-Tawbah, "While the Prophet (ﷺ) was engaged in the battle of Tabuk and a unit of the hypocrites was ahead of him, they said, 'He presumes that he will conquer the castles of Rome and its forts. Away, away!" Allah let his Prophet (ﷺ) know of that which they were saying. So, he said, 'It is incumbent on me to reckon with these people," and he summoned them and disclosed to them what they had been saying. They swore, 'We were not but merely jesting and playing.'"
We must remember that to make fun of anything concerning religion is a sign of hypocrisy be it the veil, the beard, the dress or jihad. He who makes fun of a Muslim man or woman, because of their conducting themselves on Shari'ah is a disbeliever.

The hypocrites always jesting and adverse on a muslim's honor. They try to hurt a Muslim's honour. They criticise and back bite the Muslims though a proper Muslim is one from whose hand and tongue other people are safe. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ""There are for (the transaction of) interest seventy-three gates. The least harmful of these is like a man committing adultery with his mother. And the most harmful is to damage a Muslim's honour."
How can one who damages a Muslim 's honour be a Muslim? He is a hypocrite, only a hypocrite will do such a thing, just as one passed derogatory remarks during the battle of Tabuk. He had defamed the Sahabah and taunted them.

The hypocrites always try to forbid piety and enjoin evil. The obligatory of religious duties are enjoining piety and forbid evil. If anyone neglects this duty, he commits a sin. Hudhayfah narrated that the Prophet|i (ﷺ) said, "By Him Who has my soul in His hand, you will enjoin the good and forbid the evil or it is close by that Allah send on you a punishment from Him after which you will pray to Him but He will not respond to you."
When the Children of Israel forsook this duty, they were cursed by Prophet Dawud and 'Isa Ibn Maryam, alayhimussalam. Allah said,

لُعِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنۡۢ بَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ عَلٰی لِسَانِ دَاوٗدَ وَ عِیۡسَی ابۡنِ مَرۡیَمَ ؕ ذٰلِکَ بِمَا عَصَوۡا وَّ کَانُوۡا یَعۡتَدُوۡنَ
"Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed." - (QS.5:78)
If the punishment is meted out on neglecting a duty, then imagine what will happen on doing the opposite by enjoining or promoting evil and preventing or forbidding piety. If anyone does not recognise evil as such, then his heart is devoid of faith. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He among you who sees evil (being done) must prevent it with his hand. But, if he is unable to do that, then he must (prevent it) with his tongue. But, if he is not able to do that, then he must (regard it as evil) in his heart, and that is the weakest form of faith."
If the heart is devoid of faith, then disbelief or hypocrisy resides therein. Hence, Allah describes it as a hypocrites character,

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)
Preventing piety may take various forms. One who offers the Salaah may be mocked, a servant may not be permitted to pray, disallowing someone to take part in jihad and speaking against it, not keeping fast and rediculing those who do, and discouraging other people to build a mosque or a Madrasah. Enjoying evil also takes different forms. One may invite others to watch the movies or the television, to tease women, to encourage the customs of evil people, to advocate an evil social life, to discourage the veil, to say the veil is of the heart or the eyes, to sell intoxicants to circulate immoral magazines, to spread immodesty through the print media, etc.

O my brothers and sisters, the hypocrites always try to promote immodesty, spending time to listen to musics, and tease women and girls. Those people who try to promote and spread immodesty among the Muslims, are hypocrites. Although some 'Ulama allow music, we have to be careful and remember the advice of Ibn Mas'ud, "Love of songs grows hypocrisy in the heart in the same way as herbage grows in water." The hypocrites always spending their time to make the television common so that gypsies and dancers are found in every home, and to do such other things to spread indecency, are all hypocritical deeds. Allah says,

اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ یُحِبُّوۡنَ اَنۡ تَشِیۡعَ الۡفَاحِشَۃُ فِی الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ ۙ فِی الدُّنۡیَا وَ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ وَ اَنۡتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ
"Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know." - (QS.24:19)
Whosoever is involved in them, invites upon himself Divine punishment. Allah says,
وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ یَّشۡتَرِیۡ لَہۡوَ الۡحَدِیۡثِ لِیُضِلَّ عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ بِغَیۡرِ عِلۡمٍ ٭ۖ وَّ یَتَّخِذَہَا ہُزُوًا ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ مُّہِیۡنٌ
"And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment." - (QS.31:6)
It is again, the hypocrite who will tease women and girls, he comes across on the roads. In the times of the Prophet (ﷺ), men would station themselves on the street-corners and tease passing women. When they were reprimanded, they put forward the pretext that they did not know if the women slaves or free respectable ladies. So Allah ordained the veil,
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا
"O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful." - (QS.33:56)
And Allah warned the hypocrites,
لَئِنۡ لَّمۡ یَنۡتَہِ الۡمُنٰفِقُوۡنَ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ مَّرَضٌ وَّ الۡمُرۡجِفُوۡنَ فِی الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ لَنُغۡرِیَنَّکَ بِہِمۡ ثُمَّ لَا یُجَاوِرُوۡنَکَ فِیۡہَاۤ اِلَّا قَلِیۡلً
"If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease and those who spread rumors in al-Madinah do not cease, We will surely incite you against them; then they will not remain your neighbors therein except for a little." - (QS.33:60)
The Leader of the Munafiqun, Ibn Ubayy, earned money by compelling his female slaves to prostitution. Allah made know his filthy deed and forbade the people from doing the evil.
وَ لَا تُکۡرِہُوۡا فَتَیٰتِکُمۡ عَلَی الۡبِغَآءِ اِنۡ اَرَدۡنَ تَحَصُّنًا لِّتَبۡتَغُوۡا عَرَضَ الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ؕ وَ مَنۡ یُّکۡرِہۡہُّنَّ فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ اِکۡرَاہِہِنَّ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ
"...And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, Allah is [to them], after their compulsion, Forgiving and Merciful." (QS.24:33)
Clearly, Muslims prefer to live a chaste life and only the hypocrites promote indecency. Many people find excuses to make adultery common in the society. Their character resembles that of the hypocrites.O my brothers and sisters, the hypocrite, likes indecency and shamelessness. He lacks the sense of modesty. The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
الْحَيَاءُ وَالْعِيُّ شُعْبَتَانِ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ وَالْبَذَاءُ وَالْبَيَانُ شُعْبَتَانِ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ
"Al-Haya' (modesty) and al-'Iyy ( little speech) are branches of faith while al-badha (obscenity) and al-bayan (talkativeness) are branches of hypocrisy."
Modesty and decency are the blessings that keep a person away from evil. When they lack in him, he is willing to do every wrong. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Surely, from the words of the early prophethood that which has reached the people is, 'when you do not feel ashamed, do whatever you like.'"
The believers possess modesty. Sa'd Ibn Ubadah narrated that if he were to see a stranger with his wife, he would strike him with the sword not its flat part (but the blade). This was conveyed to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he asked, "Are you surprised at Sa'd's sense of Modesty? I have a greater sense of it than he and Allah has a greater one than I."

O my brothers and sisters, the hypocrite does good deeds only to be seen by other people, when he is alone, he is fearless and commits sin because he lacks the conviction of the hereafter. This is a sign of the hypocrites who are seen to worship much, but, in private, they commit much sin. A hypocrite is not pleased with piety and is not afraid of punishment against sins.
When Umar Ibn Khattab went to Shaam (Syria and adjoining areas at that time), he addressed the people. He praised Allah and glorified Him and said, "Indeed, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had stood up amongst us to preach as I have stood up amongst you today and he said, 'the sign of the hypocrite is that evil does not hurt him and piety does not please him. If he does a good deed, he does not hope to receive from Allah a reward for that good deed. And if he does a bad deed, he does not fear a punishment from Allah for that bad deed."
Bilal Ibn Sa'd said, "Do not become a friend of Allah in public, but His enemy in private."
Abu Sha'tha said, “Some people from Iraq came to Abdullah Umar and launched a tirade to Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah. They spoke ill of him, Ibn Umar asked them whether they spoke the same thing on his face. They confessed, ’No, Rather we praise him on his face.' Ibn Umar told them that they considered this conduct as hypocrisy. An imam (with a petition) and he gives a wicked decision. So we say to him, 'May Allah enable you (to do justice),' But, we observe one of us shower praise on him.” Ibn Umar said, "We are a company of the Sahabah of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). We count this conduct as hypocrisy. But, I cannot say how you people classify it.”

O my brothers and sisters, a believer is never niggardly. It is the hypocrite who is miserly. Allah says,

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)
It is not proper to compel anyone to spend in Allah's way. It is also wrong to force someone to increase his spending in Allah's path. Allah has commanded us to spend in His cause and encouraged us to go on doing that. We find many examples of liberal spending by the Sahabah. Allah says,
وَأَنْفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوا ۛ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
"And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good." - (QS.2:195)
O my brothers and sisters, another sign of the hypocrite is scaring people by spreading rumors. It is not a Muslim’s work to sprad rumour and cause the people to panic. This is, in fact, a sign of the hypocrite. When the hypocrites go anywhere with the Muslims, be it a battle or any other purpose, their conduct is depicted in this verse,
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)
'Confusion' here includes ’panic' and tale-bearing against Muslims, causing a rift among them. They also give wrong advice. A hypocrite spreads rumours to cause Muslims to lose courage and feel dejected. He spreads false news by exaggeration the figures of their casualties and showing a high strength of the enemies. But, one should remember that strength lies in Allah's hands, and none can overcome whom Allah helps.

O my brothers and sisters, the hypocrites are cowards and they fear the vicissitudes of time. They also scare people from this and see every difficulty falling on them Allah says,

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)
A Muslim never displays cowardice. This is why Allah has said that those who show their backs in the battle will get a severe punishment."
Abu Umamah Bahili described a hypocrite as one who lies when he speaks, breaches his promise when he makes one, betrays when he is entrusted something, misappropriates when he gathers the booty, disobeys when he is given a command behaves cowardly when he encounters an enemy.
Hence, he who has these traits is a hypocrite and if anyone has some of these then he has that much of hypocrisy in him. Allah says,

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 he is scared, the hypocrite sees death hovering, over him but when the fear recedes, he does not tire boasting about his bravety Allah says,
اَشِحَّۃً عَلَیۡکُمۡ ۚۖ فَاِذَا جَآءَ الۡخَوۡفُ رَاَیۡتَہُمۡ یَنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَیۡکَ تَدُوۡرُ اَعۡیُنُہُمۡ کَالَّذِیۡ یُغۡشٰی عَلَیۡہِ مِنَ الۡمَوۡتِ ۚ فَاِذَا ذَہَبَ الۡخَوۡفُ سَلَقُوۡکُمۡ بِاَلۡسِنَۃٍ حِدَادٍ اَشِحَّۃً عَلَی الۡخَیۡرِ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ لَمۡ یُؤۡمِنُوۡا فَاَحۡبَطَ اللّٰہُ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ ؕ وَ کَانَ ذٰلِکَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ یَسِیۡرًا
"Indisposed toward you. And when fear comes, you see them looking at you, their eyes revolving like one being overcome by death. But when fear departs, they lash you with sharp tongues, indisposed toward [any] good. Those have not believed, so Allah has rendered their deeds worthless, and ever is that, for Allah, easy." ― (QS. 33:19)
Abu Talhah narrated, "On the day of Uhud, drowsiness overtook us while were in battle rows. My sword dropped down from my hand. I picked it up and it dropped again, and again I picked it up. And another party - the hypocrites! They limit had no concern at all but their own eyes,cowards to the limit, most fearful and deserters to the worst degree. They are liars, and they are doubters in affairs of Allah.

O my brothers and sisters, a hypocrite always wishes for a Muslim's suffering. But, when Muslims gain victory, he assures them that he belongs to their ranks. Allah says,

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)
And Allah says,
وَ مِنَ الۡاَعۡرَابِ مَنۡ یَّتَّخِذُ مَا یُنۡفِقُ مَغۡرَمًا وَّ یَتَرَبَّصُ بِکُمُ الدَّوَآئِرَ ؕ عَلَیۡہِمۡ دَآئِرَۃُ السَّوۡءِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ سَمِیۡعٌ عَلِیۡمٌ
"And among the bedouins are some who consider what they spend as a loss and await for you turns of misfortune. Upon them will be a misfortune of evil. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing." ― (QS. 9:98)
A Muslim is a well-wisher of his fellow Muslim. He neither deserts him nor hurts him. To curse anyone or wish for his suffering is also to hurt him.Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying
لاَ تَحَاسَدُوا وَلاَ تَنَاجَشُوا وَلاَ تَبَاغَضُوا وَلاَ تَدَابَرُوا وَلاَ يَبِعْ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَيْعِ بَعْضٍ وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا ‏.‏ الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ لاَ يَظْلِمُهُ وَلاَ يَخْذُلُهُ وَلاَ يَحْقِرُهُ ‏.‏ التَّقْوَى هَا هُنَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَيُشِيرُ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ‏"‏ بِحَسْبِ امْرِئٍ مِنَ الشَّرِّ أَنْ يَحْقِرَ أَخَاهُ الْمُسْلِمَ كُلُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ حَرَامٌ دَمُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَعِرْضُهُ
"Don't nurse grudge and don't bid him out for raising the price and don't nurse aversion or enmity and don't enter into a transaction when the others have entered into that transaction and be as fellow-brothers and servants of Allah. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him. The piety is here, (and while saying so) he pointed towards his chest thrice. It is a serious evil for a Muslim that he should look down upon his brother Muslim. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother in faith: his blood, his wealth and his honour." [HR Muslim, 2564]
O my brothers and sisters, the hypocrites are glibbed tongued arrogance. Allah says,
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)
Jabir narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,
إِنَّ مِنْ أَحَبِّكُمْ إِلَىَّ وَأَقْرَبِكُمْ مِنِّي مَجْلِسًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَحَاسِنَكُمْ أَخْلاَقًا وَإِنَّ أَبْغَضَكُمْ إِلَىَّ وَأَبْعَدَكُمْ مِنِّي مَجْلِسًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الثَّرْثَارُونَ وَالْمُتَشَدِّقُونَ وَالْمُتَفَيْهِقُونَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ عَلِمْنَا الثَّرْثَارُونَ وَالْمُتَشَدِّقُونَ فَمَا الْمُتَفَيْهِقُونَ قَالَ ‏"‏ الْمُتَكَبِّرُونَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
"Indeed the most beloved among you to me, and the nearest to sit with me on the Day of Judgment is the best of you in character. And indeed, the most disliked among you to me, and the one sitting furthest from me on the Day of Judgement are the Thartharun (the talkative), and the Mutashaddiqun (the loud-mouthed) and the Muthafaihiqun." They said, "O Messenger of Allah! We know about the Thartharun, and the Mutashaddiqun, but what about the Muthafaihiqun?"' He (ﷺ) said,"The Mutakabbirun (the arrogant)." {HR Jami' at-Tirmidhi, 2018; Hasan]
Allah does not like that anyone should be arrogant. Narrated 'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying
لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ وَلاَ يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ خَرْدَلَةٍ مِنْ إِيمَانٍ
"He who has in his heart as much pride as much pride as grain of mustard-seed will not enter paradise. And he who has in his heart as much faith as grain of mustard-seed will not enter Hell." [HR Sunan Abi Dawud, 4091; Sahih by Al-Albani]
Narrated Abu Hurairah, the Prophet (ﷺ) said,
قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْكِبْرِيَاءُ رِدَائِي وَالْعَظَمَةُ إِزَارِي فَمَنْ نَازَعَنِي وَاحِدًا مِنْهُمَا قَذَفْتُهُ فِي النَّارِ
"Allah Most High says: Pride is my cloak and majesty is my lower garment, and I shall throw him who view with me regarding one of them into Hell." [Sunan Abi Dawud, 4090; Shahih by Al-Albani]
The hypocrite is arrogant, Allah says,
وَ اِذَا قِیۡلَ لَہُمۡ تَعَالَوۡا یَسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَکُمۡ رَسُوۡلُ اللّٰہِ لَوَّوۡا رُءُوۡسَہُمۡ وَ رَاَیۡتَہُمۡ یَصُدُّوۡنَ وَ ہُمۡ مُّسۡتَکۡبِرُوۡنَ
"And when it is said to them, 'Come, the Messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you,' they turn their heads aside and you see them evading while they are arrogant." ― (QS. 63:5)
[Part 6]

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Hypocrisy (4)

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."
[Part 5]