In this article, (InshaAllah: if Allah wills) we will introduce a very dangerous group—“Hypocrites”—their types, fundamental signs, and their religious and social harms will be clarified. Initially, the literal and technical definition of hypocrisy will be presented, then the difference between major hypocrisy (I’tiqadi) and minor hypocrisy (Amali), their effects and consequences will be explained. Alongside, exact references from the Quran and Hadith will be quoted, while the meanings of Arabic terms will be elaborated in Urdu. Finally, a concise summary and conclusions will be given under separate headings.
Hypocrisy: Definition and Background
Literal Meaning
‘Nifaq’ is a verbal noun derived from the Arabic root N-A-F-Q: نَافَقَ یُنَافِقُ نِفَاقًا وَمُنَافَقَۃً—which means “to hide, to cover the truth.” A hypocrite is called “Munafiq” because he hides his inner self and outwardly behaves contrary to it.
Derivational Indication
‘Hypocrisy’ is also linked to ‘hypocrites’—it is like the secret exit path of a ‘jerboa’ (desert rat’s) burrow: entry through one hole and escape through another, which is concealed from outside. When caught at one hole, it escapes through the other. Similarly, a hypocrite in Islam “enters” through one door and “exits” through another. Some lexicographers have derived it from ‘nafaq’ (a tunnel/hiding hole).
Legal Terminology
Legally, ‘hypocrisy’ means: outwardly showing Islam while hiding disbelief/evil in the heart. For this reason, Allah Almighty said about the hypocrites:
﴿ اِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِیْنَ ہُمُ الْفَاسِقُوْنَ﴾ [ التوبۃ : ۶۷]
Translation: “Indeed, the hypocrites are the defiantly disobedient.”
Defiant means those who go beyond the limits of Shariah.
Types of Hypocrisy
① Major Hypocrisy (Aqeedah-related)
In this, a person outwardly remains a Muslim but hides disbelief in his heart. This is explicit apostasy; with it, a person completely leaves the religion and (may Allah protect us) becomes deserving of the lowest level of Hell. These people usually increase when Islam is dominant and they cannot openly oppose it; then, sitting behind the veil of apparent Islam, they conspire and, taking advantage of the protection of Muslims’ lives, honor, and wealth, harm the religion.
Forms (Examples) of Major Hypocrisy:
01. Denying the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, or denying some parts of the Shariah brought by him ﷺ.
02. Harboring enmity in the heart against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, or having hatred for some parts of the Muhammadan Shariah.
03. Being happy at the decline of the Muslim Ummah, and being sad at the dominance of Islam and the victories of Muslims.
② Minor Hypocrisy (Practical)
In this, the faith of the heart remains, but a person adopts actions or traits like those of hypocrites—for example, frequent lying, breaking promises, betrayal in trust, etc. This does not expel one from faith; such a person can simultaneously have both faithful and unfaithful traits and will be deserving of reward or punishment according to their good/bad deeds.
Major Hypocrisy and Minor Hypocrisy: Fundamental Difference
◈ Exiting Islam: Major hypocrisy expels one from Islam; minor hypocrisy does not.
◈ Relation to a believer: A true believer cannot commit major hypocrisy; minor hypocrisy can occur.
◈ Hereafter outcome: One who dies upon major hypocrisy is an eternal Hellfire dweller; in the case of minor hypocrisy, if death occurs without repentance, the matter is subject to Allah’s will—He may forgive based on monotheism or punish and admit to Paradise.
Hypocrisy: A Deadly Disease
Hypocrisy is a disease of the heart which Allah increases:
﴿ فِیْ قُلُوْبِہِمْ مَرَضٌ فَزَادَہُمُ اللّٰہُ مَرَضًا وَلَہُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِیْمٌ بِمَا کَانُوْا یَکْذِبُوْنَ ﴾
Translation: “In their hearts is a disease, so Allah has increased their disease… and for their lying, there is a painful punishment.”
The Companions’ Fear of Hypocrisy
The pious predecessors, especially the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), used to tremble at the thought of hypocrisy. Ibn Abi Malika says:
( أَدْرَکْتُ ثَلَاثِیْنَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِیِّ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کُلُّہُمْ یَخَافُ النِّفَاقَ عَلٰی نَفْسِہِ ) [ البخاری ۔ کتاب الإیمان باب خوف المؤمن من أن یحبط عملہ وہو لا یشعر ]
“I found thirty Companions, each one feared hypocrisy upon himself.”
Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to keep asking Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) (one of the secret companions), whether the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned his name among the hypocrites—although he was the one from whose path Satan used to shy away, for whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) made special supplications and gave glad tidings of Paradise. If he himself remained fearful, then we should fear even more.
The Quranic Approach: Unveiling Hypocrisy
Allah Almighty has revealed the secrets of the hypocrites side by side, so that servants may protect themselves from their evil. A complete Surah, Surah Al-Munafiqun, was revealed and a clear command was given:
﴿ ہُمُ الْعَدُوُّ فَاحْذَرْہُمْ ﴾ [ المنافقون : ۴]
Translation: “These are the enemies, beware of them.”
At the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah, three groups are mentioned: the believers, the disbelievers, and the hypocrites—four verses about the believers, two about the disbelievers, while the hypocrites have an entire rukoo’ (thirteen verses). This is because their numbers and the fear of their mischief were greater.
An Outline of the Trials of the Hypocrites in the Light of Islamic History
Islamic history shows that the conspiracies of the hypocrites have repeatedly caused severe harm to the Ummah. Outwardly, wearing the cloak of “support for Islam,” these people secretly wove plots, revealed the secrets of Muslims, and struck at their weak points. This behavior still exists today in various forms—may Allah protect Muslims from their evil.
Prominent Signs of a Hypocrite (In the Light of Quran and Sunnah)
01) Lying
A major sign of a hypocrite is “lying”—truth is rare on their tongue. The Quran itself testifies to their lies:
﴿اِِذَا جَآئَکَ الْمُنَافِقُوْنَ قَالُوْا نَشْہَدُ اِِنَّکَ لَرَسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ وَاللّٰہُ یَعْلَمُ اِِنَّکَ لَرَسُوْلُہٗ وَاللّٰہُ یَشْہَدُ اِِنَّ الْمُنٰفِقِیْنَ لَکٰذِبُوْنَ ﴾ [ المنافقون :۱]
Translation: “When the hypocrites come to you, they say, ‘We bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah’… and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars.”
The same meaning is also expressed as:
﴿ یَوْمَ یَبْعَثُہُمُ اللّٰہُ جَمِیْعًا فَیَحْلِفُوْنَ لَہٗ کَمَا یَحْلِفُوْنَ لَکُمْ وَیَحْسَبُوْنَ اَنَّہُمْ عَلٰی شَیْئٍ اَلَآ اِِنَّہُمْ ہُمُ الْکٰذِبُوْنَ﴾ [ المجادلۃ : ۱۸]
Translation: “They swear by Allah with the same oaths as you do… Beware! They are indeed liars.”
And He said:
﴿ وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ یَّقُوْلُ اٰمَنَّا بِاللّٰہِ وَ بِالْیَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ وَ مَا ھُمْ بِمُؤمِنِیْنَ﴾
Translation: “Among the people are some who say, ‘We believe,’ while they are not believers.”
02) Deception and Fraud
Hypocrites even try to “deceive” Allah and the believers (although they only deceive themselves):
﴿یُخَادِعُوْنَ اللّٰہَ وَالَّذِیْنَ آمَنُوْا وَمَا یَخْدَعُوْنَ اِلَّا اَنْفُسَہُمْ وَمَا یَشْعُرُوْنَ٭ فِیْ قُلُوْبِہِمْ مَرَضٌ فَزَادَہُمُ اللّٰہُ مَرَضًا وَلَہُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِیْمٌ بِمَا کَانُوْا یَکْذِبُوْنَ﴾
Translation: “They want to deceive Allah and the believers… for them is a painful punishment because of the lies they tell.”
03) Corruption in the name of “Reform”
Hypocrites raise the slogan of reform but in reality spread corruption:
﴿ وَ اِذَا قِیْلَ لَھُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوْا فِی الْاَرْضِ قَالُوْٓا اِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُوْنَ ٭اَلَآ اِنَّھُمْ ھُمُ الْمُفْسِدُوْنَ وَ لَکِنْ لَّا یَشْعُرُوْنَ ﴾
Translation: “When it is said to them: Do not cause corruption on the earth, they say: We are only reformers… Hear this! They are indeed the corrupters but they do not realize.”
Examples of the present age: fake spiritual guides, astrologers, magicians—who loot the public and destroy homes, honor, and economy. The Prophet ﷺ strictly forbade such doors:
( مَنْ أَتَی عَرَّافًا فَسَأَلَہُ عَنْ شَيْئٍ لَمْ تُقْبَلْ لَہُ صَلَاۃُ أَرْبَعِیْنَ لَیْلَۃً ) [ مسلم : ۲۲۳۰]
Translation: “Whoever goes to a soothsayer/astrologer and asks him a question, forty nights of his prayer will not be accepted.”
And confirming it is disbelief:
(مَنْ أَتٰی عَرَّافًا أَوْ کَاہِنًا فَصَدَّقَہُ بِمَا یَقُوْلُ فَقَدْ کَفَرَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ صلي الله عليه وسلم ) [ صحیح الجامع للألبانی : ۵۹۳۹]
04) Insulting the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them
The religion reached us through the Companions of the Prophet; to slander them is the way of the hypocrites:
﴿ وَ اِذَا قِیْلَ لَھُمْ اٰمِنُوْا کَمَآ اٰمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُوْٓا اَنُؤمِنُ کَمَآ اٰمَنَ السُّفَھَآئُ اَلَآ اِنَّھُمْ ھُمُ السُّفَھَآئُ وَ لٰکِنْ لَّا یَعْلَمُوْنَ ﴾ [ البقرۃ : ۱۳ ]
Translation: “When it is said to them, ‘Believe as the people have believed,’ they say, ‘Shall we believe as the fools have believed?’ Beware! They are indeed the fools, but they do not know.”
Here, “the people” refers to those Companions who had already believed at the time of the revelation of this verse. Even today, those who slander the Companions, including Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), fall into this category, although the Quran has declared their innocence in the incident of Al-Ifk.
05) Breaking promises and betrayal
Making a promise to Allah and then going back on it—this is also a sign of a hypocrite:
﴿ وَ مِنْھُمْ مَّنْ عٰھَدَ اللّٰہَ لَئِنْ اٰتٰنَا مِنْ فَضْلِہٖ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَ لَنَکُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِیْنَ٭ فَلَمَّآ اٰتٰھُمْ مِّنْ فَضْلِہٖ بَخِلُوْا بِہٖ وَ تَوَلَّوْا وَّ ھُمْ مُّعْرِضُوْنَ٭ فَاَعْقَبَھُمْ نِفَاقًا فِیْ قُلُوْبِھِمْ اِلٰی یَوْمِ یَلْقَوْنَہٗ بِمَآ اَخْلَفُوا اللّٰہَ مَا وَعَدُوْہُ وَ بِمَا کَانُوْا یَکْذِبُوْن ﴾
Translation: “When Allah gave them (wealth), they were stingy and turned away… so Allah has caused hypocrisy to settle in their hearts until the meeting with their Lord because of their breaking of promises and lying.”
06) Friendship with disbelievers and Jews and conspiracies against Muslims
One dangerous sign of hypocrites is that they form friendships with the enemies of Islam—especially Jews and Christians—and conspire against Muslims.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ بَشِّرِ الْمُنٰفِقِیْنَ بِاَنَّ لَھُمْ عَذَابًا اَلِیْمًا ٭ الَّذِیْنَ یَتَّخِذُوْنَ الْکٰفِرِیْنَ اَوْلِیَآئَ مِنْ دُوْنِ الْمُؤمِنِیْنَ اَیَیْتَغُوْنَ عِنْدَھُمُ الْعِزَّۃَ فَاِنَّ الْعِزَّۃَ لِلّٰہِ جَمِیْعًا ﴾ [ النساء : ۱۳۸ ۔ ۱۳۹]
Translation:
“Give the hypocrites the glad tidings of a painful punishment. These are the people who take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers. Do they seek honor from them? But indeed, all honor belongs to Allah alone.”
Similarly, it is stated:
﴿ اَلَمْ تَرَ اِِلَی الَّذِیْنَ تَوَلَّوْا قَوْمًا غَضِبَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِمْ مَا ہُمْ مِّنْکُمْ وَلاَ مِنْہُمْ وَیَحْلِفُوْنَ عَلَی الْکَذِبِ وَہُمْ یَعْلَمُوْنَ ﴾ [ المجادلۃ : ۱۴]
Translation:
“Have you not seen those who take as allies a people on whom is the wrath of Allah? They are neither of you nor of them, and they swear to falsehood knowingly.”
The ones upon whom Allah’s wrath has fallen are the Jews. The hypocrites of Medina loved and befriended these Jews and maintained secret contacts with them. But Allah Almighty said:
﴿ مَا ہُمْ مِّنْکُمْ وَلاَ مِنْہُمْ ﴾ — “They are neither yours nor theirs.”
Meaning, they are like the washerman’s dog, neither belonging to the house nor to the riverbank.
Further warning was given:
﴿ اَعَدَّ اللّٰہُ لَہُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِیْدًا اِِنَّہُمْ سَآئَ مَا کَانُوْا یَعْمَلُوْنَ ٭ اتَّخَذُوْٓا اَیْمَانَہُمْ جُنَّۃً فَصَدُّوْا عَنْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰہِ فَلَہُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّہِیْنٌ ﴾ [ المجادلۃ : ۱۵۔ ۱۶]
Translation:
“Allah has prepared for them a severe punishment. They have taken their oaths as a shield and prevent people from the way of Allah, so there is a humiliating punishment for them.”
07) Denial of Divine Law and Following Tyrannical Laws
One sign of a hypocrite is that he avoids making decisions according to the law revealed by Allah. Rather, he takes pride in the tyrannical (un-Islamic) system.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ اَلَمْ تَرَ اِلَی الَّذِیْنَ یَزْعُمُوْنَ اَنَّھُمْ اٰمَنُوْابِمَآ اُنْزِلَ اِلَیْکَ وَمَآ اُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِکَ یُرِیْدُوْنَ اَنْ یَّتَحَاکَمُوْٓا اِلَی الطَّاغُوْتِ وَ قَدْ اُمِرُوْٓا اَنْ یَّکْفُرُوْا بِہٖ وَ یُرِیْدُ الشَّیْطٰنُ اَنْ یُّضِلَّھُمْ ضَلٰلًا بَعِیْدًا ٭ وَ اِذَا قِیْلَ لَھُمْ تَعَالَوْا اِلٰی مَآ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰہُ وَاِلَی الرَّسُوْلِ رَاَیْتَ الْمُنٰفِقِیْنَ یَصُدُّوْنَ عَنْکَ صُدُوْدًا ﴾
Translation:
“Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you and what was revealed before you, yet they wish to refer judgment to Taghut (false deities)? But they were commanded to reject it. 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.”
08) Laziness and Showing Off in Prayer
A prominent characteristic of hypocrites is laziness in prayer and worship with the intention of showing off.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِیْنَ یُخَادِعُوْنَ اللّٰہَ وَہُوَ خَادِعُہُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوْا إِلَی الصَّلاَۃِ قَامُوْا کُسَالٰی یُرَاؤُنَ النَّاسَ وَلاَ یَذْکُرُوْنَ اللّٰہَ إِلاَّ قَلِیْلاً ﴾ [ النساء : ۱۴۲]
Translation:
“They (the hypocrites) deceive Allah, but He will repay them their due; when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing off to the people, and they do not remember Allah except a little.”
And in one place it is said:
﴿ وَ لَا یَاْتُوْنَ الصَّلٰوۃَ اِلَّا وَ ھُمْ کُسَالٰی﴾ [ التوبۃ :۵۴]
Translation: “They do not come to prayer except lazily.”
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
( إِنَّ أَثْقَلَ صَلَاۃٍ عَلَی الْمُنَافِقِیْنَ صَلَاۃُ الْعِشَائِ وَصَلَاۃُ الْفَجْرِ ، وَلَوْ یَعْلَمُوْنَ مَا فِیْہِمَا لَأَتَوْہُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا )
Translation:
“The heaviest prayers for the hypocrites are the Isha and Fajr prayers. If they knew what reward was in them, they would come even crawling on their knees.”
09) Negligence in Congregational Prayer
Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
(وَلَقَدْ رَأَیْتُنَا وَمَا یَتَخَلَّفُ عَنْہَا إِلَّا مُنَافِقٌ مَّعْلُومُ النِّفَاقِ …)
Translation:
“We saw during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that only the person whose hypocrisy was apparent to all would lag behind the congregation.”
10) Commanding Evil and Forbidding Good
The Quran says:
﴿ اَلْمُنٰفِقُوْنَ وَ الْمُنٰفِقٰتُ بَعْضُھُمْ مِّنْ بَعْضٍ یَاْمُرُوْنَ بِالْمُنْکَرِ وَ یَنْھَوْنَ عَنِ الْمَعْرُوْفِ وَ یَقْبِضُوْنَ اَیْدِیَھُمْ نَسُوا اللّٰہَ فَنَسِیَھُمْ اِنَّ الْمُنٰفِقِیْنَ ھُمُ الْفٰسِقُوْنَ﴾ [ التوبۃ : ۶۷]
Translation:
“The hypocrite men and women are alike; they enjoin evil, forbid good, and withhold their hands (from spending in the way of Allah). They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them. Indeed, they are disobedient.”
11) Creating Division Among Muslims
A major characteristic of hypocrites is that they strive to break the unity of Muslims. Sometimes they make mosques centers of discord and division, and sometimes they create turmoil in the name of factionalism.
Allah Almighty has given an example of this in the incident of Masjid al-Darar:
﴿ وَ الَّذِیْنَ اتَّخَذُوْا مَسْجِدًا ضِرَارًا وَّ کُفْرًا وَّ تَفْرِیْقًا بَیْنَ الْمُؤمِنِیْنَ وَ اِرْصَادًا لِّمَنْ حَارَبَ اللّٰہَ وَ رَسُوْلَہٗ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَ لَیَحْلِفُنَّ اِنْ اَرَدْنَآ اِلَّا الْحُسْنٰی وَ اللّٰہُ یَشْھَدُ اِنَّھُمْ لَکٰذِبُوْنَ ﴾ [ التوبۃ :۱۰۷]
Translation:
“And those who built a mosque to cause harm, to spread disbelief, to create division among the believers, and as an ambush for those who had fought against Allah and His Messenger before. They swear that their intention is nothing but good, but Allah bears witness that they are certainly liars.”
This verse was revealed about those hypocrites who built the “Masjid al-Darar.” Outwardly a place of worship, but in reality a base for enmity against Islam and division among the believers. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was invited to lead prayers there, but upon the revelation of the truth through divine guidance, he ordered the demolition of this mosque.
Lesson:
It is regrettable that even today many people turn mosques into centers of sectarian bias instead of unity of the Ummah. Instead of spreading the Quran and Sunnah from the pulpit and mihrab, they propagate their own sectarian ideologies, resulting in the Muslim Ummah being divided into factions.
12) Distorting Facts and Spreading Rumors
A particular weapon of the hypocrites is false propaganda. They distort the truth and spread baseless news to create unrest in the hearts of Muslims.
The clearest example of this is the “Incident of Ifk,” in which the hypocrites falsely accused Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) of adultery.
The Reality of the Incident:
Upon returning from the Battle of Banu Mustaliq, when the caravan reached near Medina, Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) went to relieve herself. On her return, her howdah (the seat of the mount) was taken away empty because she was thin and slight. The army departed, and she was left behind. After some time, Safwan bin Mu’attal (may Allah be pleased with him) — who stayed behind the army to search for lost items — arrived there. Recognizing Sayyida Aisha, he said: “Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.” She immediately covered herself and mounted the camel, and Safwan (may Allah be pleased with him) held the reins of her mount and brought her to the army.
However, the hypocrites used this incident as a pretext to spread rumors that Sayyida Aisha had committed (seeking refuge with Allah) adultery. This lie spread so much that it caused turmoil in Medina. Even the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Hazrat Abu Bakr, and Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with them) were deeply distressed. Eventually, Allah Almighty revealed the verses of exoneration, declaring the purity of the Mother of the Believers and labeling this slander as a great falsehood.
13) Abandoning Religion During Trials
The faith of a hypocrite is based on self-interest. When good fortune comes, they are happy, but when a trial occurs, they abandon religion and turn to disbelief.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ یَّعْبُدُ اللّٰہَ عَلٰی حَرْفٍ فَاِنْ اَصَابَہٗ خَیْرُنِ اطْمَاَنَّ بِہٖ وَ اِنْ اَصَابَتْہُ فِتْنَۃُ نِ انْقَلَبَ عَلٰی وَجْھِہٖ خَسِرَ الدُّنْیَا وَ الْاٰخِرَۃَ ذٰلِکَ ھُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِیْنُ﴾ [الحج :۱۱]
Translation:
“Some people worship Allah while standing on the edge. If good comes to them, they remain content, but if a trial befalls them, they turn away. Thus, they lose both this world and the Hereafter, and that is the clear loss.”
Similarly, He said:
﴿ وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ یَّقُوْلُ اٰمَنَّا بِاللّٰہِ فَاِذَآ اُوْذِیَ فِی اللّٰہِ جَعَلَ فِتْنَۃَ النَّاسِ کَعَذَابِ اللّٰہِ … ﴾
Translation:
“Some people say: We have believed. But when they suffer harm in the way of Allah, they consider it as a punishment from Allah. And when victory comes, they say: We were with you. Allah surely knows who are the believers and who are the hypocrites.”
14) Being Happy Over the Misfortune of Muslims
Hypocrites are not well-wishers of Muslims at heart. If Muslims succeed, they burn with envy, and if any misfortune befalls them, they rejoice.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ اِنْ تُصِبْکَ حَسَنَۃٌ تَسُؤھُمْ وَ اِنْ تُصِبْکَ مُصِیْبَۃٌ یَّقُوْلُوْا قَدْ اَخَذْنَآ اَمْرَنَا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَ یَتَوَلَّوْا وَّ ھُمْ فَرِحُوْنَ ﴾ [ التوبۃ :۵۰ ]
Translation:
“If any good befalls you, it displeases them; and if a calamity befalls you, they say: We had already taken precautions. Then they turn away happily.”
15) Cowardice, Spreading Fear, and Creating Divisions in the Ranks
The hypocrites themselves become fearful during war and also scare others. This happened during the Battle of the Trench when the enemy attacked Medina from all sides.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ اِذْ جَآئُ وْکُمْ مِّنْ فَوْقِکُمْ وَ مِنْ اَسْفَلَ مِنْکُمْ وَ اِذْ زَاغَتِ الْاَبْصَارُ وَ بَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوْبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ وَ تَظُنُّوْنَ بِاللّٰہِ الظُّنُوْنَا ٭ ھُنَالِکَ ابْتُلِیَ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ وَ زُلْزِلُوْا زِلْزَالًا شَدِیْدًا ﴾ [ الأحزاب : ۱۰۔۱۱ ]
Translation:
“When the enemy attacked you from above and below, the eyes grew white with fear, the hearts reached the throats, and you began to entertain various suspicions about Allah. There the believers were severely tested and shaken badly.”
At that moment, the hypocrites said:
﴿وَ اِذْ یَقُوْلُ الْمُنٰفِقُوْنَ وَ الَّذِیْنَ فِیْ قُلُوْبِھِمْ مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا اللّٰہُ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗٓ اِلَّا غُرُوْرًا ﴾
“The hypocrites and those in whose hearts was a disease said: Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but deceit.”
16) Changing Loyalties
The hypocrite quickly changes loyalties for worldly advantage. He is opportunistic and leans toward whichever side he sees benefit.
Allah Almighty has said:
﴿ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ جَامِعُ الْمُنٰفِقِیْنَ وَ الْکٰفِرِیْنَ فِیْ جَھَنَّمَ جَمِیْعًا ٭ اَلَّذِیْنَ یَتَرَبَّصُوْنَ بِکُمْ فَاِنْ کَانَ لَکُمْ فَتْحٌ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ قَالُوْٓا اَلَمْ نَکُنْ مَّعَکُمْ وَ اِنْ کَانَ لِلْکٰفِرِیْنَ نَصِیْبٌ قَالُوْٓا اَلَمْ نَسْتَحْوِذْ عَلَیْکُمْ وَ نَمْنَعْکُمْ مِّنَ الْمُؤمِنِیْنَ ﴾
Translation:
“Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell. They lie in wait concerning you; if you gain victory from Allah, they say: Were we not with you? And if the disbelievers gain success, they say: Did we not overpower you and protect you from the believers?”
This verse clarifies their “double-faced policy.” Unfortunately, this approach is still common today in political and social fields, where people switch sides according to their interests.
17) Smooth Talk and Pleasant Speech
The hypocrites’ manner of speech is very charming; sweetness on their tongue and poison in their heart.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَاِِذَا رَاَیْتَہُمْ تُعْجِبُکَ اَجْسَامُہُمْ وَاِِنْ یَّقُوْلُوْا تَسْمَعْ لِقَوْلِہِمْ کَاَنَّہُمْ خُشُبٌ مُّسَنَّدَۃٌ ﴾
Translation:
“If you see them, their bodies please you, and if they speak, you listen to their words with interest. But they are like wooden planks leaning against a wall (i.e., lifeless and ineffective).”
And regarding the rural hypocrites, He said:
﴿ سَیَقُوْلُ لَکَ الْمُخَلَّفُوْنَ مِنَ الْاَعْرَابِ شَغَلَتْنَآ اَمْوَالُنَا وَاَہْلُوْنَا فَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا یَقُوْلُوْنَ بِاَلْسِنَتِہِمْ مَّا لَیْسَ فِیْ قُلُوْبِہِمْ ﴾ [ الفتح : ۱۱]
Translation:
“The Bedouins who lag behind will say to you: Our wealth and families kept us busy, so ask forgiveness for us. They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts.”
Signs of a Hypocrite in the Sayings of the Holy Prophet ﷺ
Narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
﴿ آیَۃُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلاَثٌ : إِذَا حَدَّثَ کَذَبَ ، وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ ، وَإِذَا ائْتُمِنَ خَانَ ﴾
Translation:
“A hypocrite has three signs: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays.”
In another narration, he said:
﴿ أَرْبَعٌ مَنْ کُنَّ فِیْہِ کَانَ مُنَافِقًا خَالِصًا … ﴾
Translation:
“There are four characteristics; whoever has them is a complete hypocrite: (1) betrays trust, (2) lies when he speaks, (3) breaks his promise, (4) becomes abusive and quarrelsome.”
The End of the Hypocrites
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَ مِمَّنْ حَوْلَکُمْ مِّنَ الْاَعْرَابِ مُنٰفِقُوْنَ وَ مِنْ اَھْلِ الْمَدِیْنَۃِ مَرَدُوْا عَلَی النِّفَاقِ لَا تَعْلَمُھُمْ نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُھُمْ سَنُعَذِّبُھُمْ مَّرَّتَیْنِ ثُمَّ یُرَدُّوْنَ اِلٰی عَذَابٍ عَظِیْمٍ ﴾
Translation:
“There are hypocrites among the Bedouins around you and among the people of Medina who persist in their hypocrisy. You do not know them, but We know them. We will punish them twice, then they will be returned to a great punishment.”
And He said:
﴿ اِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِیْنَ فِی الدَّرْکِ الْاَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ ﴾ [ النساء : ۱۴۵]
Translation: “Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire.”
He further said:
﴿ وَعَدَ اللّٰہُ الْمُنٰفِقِیْنَ وَ الْمُنٰفِقٰتِ وَ الْکُفَّارَ نَارَ جَھَنَّمَ خٰلِدِیْنَ فِیْھَا … ﴾
“Allah has promised the hypocrite men and women and the disbelievers the fire of Hell, wherein they will abide eternally.”
And the Prophet ﷺ was commanded:
﴿ یٰٓاَیُّھَا النَّبِیُّ جَاھِدِ الْکُفَّارَ وَ الْمُنٰفِقِیْنَ وَ اغْلُظْ عَلَیْھِمْ وَ مَاْوٰھُمْ جَھَنَّمُ وَ بِئْسَ الْمَصِیْرُ ﴾
“O Prophet! Struggle against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. Their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination.”
Conclusion
✿ Hypocrisy is a dangerous spiritual disease that burns away faith.
✿ There are two types of hypocrisy:
① Major hypocrisy — disbelief in the heart, Islam outwardly, which expels one from faith.
② Minor hypocrisy — resembling the deeds of hypocrites, which weakens faith.
✿ The Quran and Sunnah describe numerous signs of hypocrites so that believers may avoid them.
✿ These include lying, breaking promises, betrayal of trusts, showing off, laziness in prayer, hatred towards the believers, friendship with disbelievers, sectarianism, and causing division.
✿ Even the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, who were great in faith, feared hypocrisy; therefore, we too should be concerned about protecting our faith.
Conclusion
Hypocrisy is essentially a disease of the heart that distances a person from faith and brings them closer to Hell. It is the duty of a believer to keep their outward and inward consistent, adopt truthfulness in speech and actions, uphold promises and covenants, be punctual in prayers, and strengthen the unity of Muslims.
May Allah protect us from hypocrisy, keep us steadfast in sincerity and faith, and include us among those about whom it is said:
﴿ صِدْقُوا مَا عٰھَدُوا اللّٰہَ عَلَیْہِ ﴾
“Who fulfilled the covenant they made with Allah.”
