It is most hateful to Allah that you should say that which you do not do. (QS As-Saff:3)
One of the worst characteristics that Islam abhors is hypocrisy. Many of us Muslims relate hypocrisy with the act of selling the deen to the disbelievers, many did not know also that nifaq/hypocrisy has levels. Hypocrites have many characteristics, the worst and most serious of which is disbelief in Allah and the previous being mentioned is a major nifaq, which in Qur'an will be mentioned that those act will surely lead to hell. There are however minor nifaqs which will not straightly put us to hell, however when the minor hypocrisy is done continuously without self consciousness to change then we really should be questioning our emaan, coz Mo’mens are those who are and will do all their might to be closer to Allah instead of away. Dishonesty i.e. lies are one of the minor nifaq, among their characteristics are those which were described by the Prophet SAW:
"There are four (characteristics), whoever has all of them is a complete hypocrite, and whoever has some of them has some element of hypocrisy, unless he gives it up: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a treaty, he betrays it; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; when he quarrels, he resorts to insults."(Narrated by Muslim, 53)
Among their characteristics is a concern with appearances and fancy speech whilst they are inwardly corrupt. Allah says concerning them:
"And when you look at them, their bodies please you; and when they speak, you listen to their words. They are as blocks of wood propped up. They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies, so beware of them. May Allaah curse them! How are they denying (or deviating from) the Right Path?"[QS Al Munaafiqoon:4]
We will find many of us Muslims behave this way, we most of the times act angelical in front of the peers, saying and acting nice and religious and astaghfirullah behave otherwise when their back is turned. Our solely intention will no longer about pleasing Allah, but the crowds more, naudzubillahi min dzalik.
The Prophet Salallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam spoke about hypocrisy several times, and every time He used some graphic description that showed how ugly and unbecoming all types of hypocrisy were. Two Hadiths in this connection are particularly interesting. The first is put very simply by the Prophet SAW who wanted His audience to fully understand his purpose. He said:
“One of the worst people is a double-faced man, who come to one group with one face and to another group with a totally different face.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Ibn Hibban).
The Prophet Salallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam describes a hypocrite person as double-faced, and then he explains why He has described him as such, showing him as though he actually had two faces. If there are two groups with some differences, or dispute, he would speak to each one in a way that would please them, and say to one group the opposite of what he says to the other. Hence, the Prophet says that such a person is one of the worst types of people. This is certainly true, because such a person could not be a man of faith who fears ALLAH. As such, he always seeks what he thinks to serve his immediate interests, knowing that this will mean that he lies to both groups or at least one of them.A similar Hadith is reported by Ammar ibn Yasir, an early companion of the Prophet, who quotes him as saying:
“Whoever is double-faced in this life will have two tongues of fire in the hereafter.” A big man then passed by and the Prophet said: “This is one of them.” (Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Abu Dawood, Al-Darimi and others).
Here the Prophet gives a more graphic description of hypocrites. The description concentrates on the hypocrite’s tongue, because it is with his words that he tries to cheat people and get the better of them. They always says to their interlocutors what would please them, so that they will be included in their good books. They do not care if what they say is untrue, because all they care for is their own interest.
Because a hypocrite relies on lying, thinking that he could lie his way out of any difficulty, God gives him two tongues on the Day of Judgment, but both are made of fire. This is a horrid picture, but very apt for such a person.
One thing every hypocrite lacks is a sense of shame. When they do something against the morality of society, they do not feel ashamed because they think that they can still get away with it, saying a few words to please one person and a few others to please someone else. That their words are lies do not trouble them. They have no sense of shame. But this sense is one that all divine messages try to promote. The Prophet SAW says:
“Among the words people received from early prophets are: if you feel no shame, then do as you wish.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, Ahmad and others).
This Hadith admits more than one interpretation. The first is that if you feel you will not be ashamed for doing what you intend to do because you can justify it as correct and there is nothing in it to be ashamed of, then you may go ahead and do it without hesitation. It may be that what you are about to do is something right, although some people may prefer that you do not do it. Since you are sure that it is just and fair, then you have nothing to answer for as a result of doing it.
You are perfectly entitled to do it. If we prefer this interpretation of this Hadith, then it is important to examine what we intend to do before embarking on it. If we find it to be perfectly acceptable and we are clear in our conscience that it is right for us to do, then that is all we need to ascertain in order to proceed with it.
Secondly, the Hadith may be taken to mean that if a person is incapable of any feeling of shame, and could not care less whether he brought shame on himself, his family or his people, then there is nothing to stop him from doing what is censurable. If we take this interpretation of the Hadith, then we observe that it is phrased in the imperative, but it is meant as a reproach. It could also be said that the Hadith means that having no sense of shame is much worse than what one may actually do.
It is important to know what may be included in having a proper sense of shame. Some people suggest that a shy person is incapable of confronting others with the truth he knows. As a result, he does not fulfill his duty to enjoin what is right and to speak out against what is wrong. His shyness may even lead him to the non-fulfillment of certain rights or duties. Such an attitude is not what is meant in having a sense of shame in the above-mentioned Hadith. This is simply a manifestation of weakness. A proper sense of shame is that which causes a person to feel afraid of being blamed for something unbecoming. It may also lead a person to forgo what rightfully belongs to him because he is too shy to demand it. Hence the virtue Islam values highly is to feel ashamed as a result of a wrong that one may do, to be afraid of blame for committing something unbecoming, and to be too modest to demand something for oneself if people may think that such a demand is made for a personal gain. It is such modesty that the Prophet SAW describes as being part of faith.
Abdullah ibn Umar reports that ALLAH’s messenger (Peace be upon Him) passed by a man who was blaming his brother for being too modest. The Prophet said to him:
“Leave him alone. Modesty is a characteristic of faith.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and others).
Apparently the man who was being blamed was too modest to claim what rightfully belongs to him. It may be very difficult to change his attitude. We notice that the Prophet has counseled this man to leave his brother alone making it clear to him that such modesty and having a sense of shame is indicative of strong faith. The Prophet’s statement makes it clear that although modesty may prevent a person from demanding his rights, it remains a virtue for which no one should be blamed. It is true that a modest person may not get his rights, but by forgoing them, he is sure to receive a much greater reward from God. It should be added here that the Prophet himself was a very modest person. He is described to have had a more refined sense of shame than a virgin in her private room.
If the kuffaar are obvious enemies from without, then the hypocrites are hidden enemies from within. They are more harmful and more dangerous to the Muslims, for they have a lack of shame they will resort to everything to gather the crowds to be on their side, they will not care that they have representing a bad image of ISLAM. So brothers and sisters let us remind ourselves not to be easy on committing minor nifaq, for it will lead us to a major nifaq if we do this continuously and has no intention to change. ALLAH is enough for us, we Muslims will and are only content when we have HIM on our side, and we Muslims will continue doing things that will only pleases HIM, and we Muslims will kept ourselves away from things that displeases HIM. ALLAH is and will always be our solely purpose and intention. May we always remember this, and may we always striving to be a good Muslim, a Muslim who is worthy of it’s title. Ameen Ya Rabbal ‘Alameen.
