Signs of a Hypocrite and Their Ultimate Fate
Derived from: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmiʿ min Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī | Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām Bhattvī
[متفق عليه]
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.”
[Bukhārī and Muslim]
In a narration from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (رضي الله عنه):
“...And when he disputes, he behaves immorally.”
[Bukhārī 34, Muslim: Kitāb al-Īmān 58]
In another narration by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
"The signs of a hypocrite are three, even if he fasts, prays, and claims to be a Muslim."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 213]
The wording in Bukhārī from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (رضي الله عنه):
"There are four characteristics; whoever possesses all of them is a pure hypocrite. And whoever possesses one of them possesses a trait of hypocrisy until he gives it up..."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī 2459, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 210]
◈ مُنَافِقٌ (Munāfiq): Derived from nāfaqāʾ, a burrow of a desert rat (yarbūʿ) that has two exits—one hidden and one apparent. Likewise, a hypocrite conceals disbelief and displays faith.
◈ آيَةٌ (Āyah): Originally ayiyyah, with the middle yāʾ changed to an alif due to grammatical transformation.
◈ أُوتُمِنَ (Ūtimina): Passive form from iftiʿāl, meaning "he was entrusted."
❶ Core of Hypocrisy:
The essence of hypocrisy is hiding disbelief and outwardly showing faith. The Qur’ān states:
وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَكَاذِبُونَ
[Al-Munāfiqūn: 1]
“And Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars.”
Thus, falsehood is the root of hypocrisy.
❷ Lying Contradicts Faith:
The Qur’ān further says:
إِنَّمَا يَفْتَرِي الْكَذِبَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ...
[An-Naḥl: 105]
“Indeed, only those who do not believe in the signs of Allah fabricate lies. They are the true liars.”
This affirms that lying is antithetical to true faith.
❸ Combining Both Narrations Yields Five Signs of a Hypocrite:
① When he speaks, he lies.
② When he makes a promise, he breaks it.
③ When he makes a pact, he betrays it.
④ When entrusted, he betrays the trust.
⑤ When he disputes, he behaves immorally.
On reflection, immoral conduct during disputes is a subset of lying, as foul speech often involves falsehood. Similarly, breaching a pact is a form of breaking a promise, though more severe due to possible oaths. Hence, the core signs reduce to three, as in the narration of Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه).
These three reflect corruption in all dimensions of trustworthiness (amānah):
② Breaking promises — rooted in dishonest intention. If the person never intended to fulfil the promise or abandons the intention later, he is sinful. However, if the promise is not fulfilled due to genuine inability, he is excused:
لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا [Al-Baqarah: 286]
③ Breach of trust — dishonesty in action, though it often includes deceit in speech and intention too.
❶ Two Types of Nifāq (Hypocrisy):
❷ Frequent vs. Occasional Occurrence:
The hadith does not imply that one becomes a hypocrite for committing such sins once or twice. A believer can err. However, if these sins become habitual, then such a person embodies hypocrisy, both in practice and in belief.
If a person consistently lies, never fulfills promises, and betrays trust, it becomes clear that he lacks real faith. Lying contradicts belief itself:
إِنَّمَا يَفْتَرِي الْكَذِبَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ...
[An-Naḥl: 105]
Such habitual behavior leads to loss of faith. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ، وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ
[Bukhārī 6094]
“Lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire.”
❖ Creedal hypocrisy is outright disbelief, while practical hypocrisy may lead to it if unchecked.
❖ Occasional sin does not make one a hypocrite, but habitual display of these signs signals a corrupted heart, potentially void of faith.
Derived from: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmiʿ min Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī | Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām Bhattvī
Hadith and Its Narrations
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: آية المنافق ثلاث: إذا حدث كذب، وإذا وعد أخلف، وإذا اؤتمن خان.[متفق عليه]
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.”
[Bukhārī and Muslim]
In a narration from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (رضي الله عنه):
“...And when he disputes, he behaves immorally.”
[Bukhārī 34, Muslim: Kitāb al-Īmān 58]
In another narration by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
"The signs of a hypocrite are three, even if he fasts, prays, and claims to be a Muslim."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 213]
The wording in Bukhārī from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (رضي الله عنه):
"There are four characteristics; whoever possesses all of them is a pure hypocrite. And whoever possesses one of them possesses a trait of hypocrisy until he gives it up..."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī 2459, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 210]
Vocabulary and Terminology
◈ مُنَافِقٌ (Munāfiq): Derived from nāfaqāʾ, a burrow of a desert rat (yarbūʿ) that has two exits—one hidden and one apparent. Likewise, a hypocrite conceals disbelief and displays faith.
◈ آيَةٌ (Āyah): Originally ayiyyah, with the middle yāʾ changed to an alif due to grammatical transformation.
◈ أُوتُمِنَ (Ūtimina): Passive form from iftiʿāl, meaning "he was entrusted."
Key Lessons and Reflections
❶ Core of Hypocrisy:
The essence of hypocrisy is hiding disbelief and outwardly showing faith. The Qur’ān states:
وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَكَاذِبُونَ
[Al-Munāfiqūn: 1]
“And Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars.”
Thus, falsehood is the root of hypocrisy.
❷ Lying Contradicts Faith:
The Qur’ān further says:
إِنَّمَا يَفْتَرِي الْكَذِبَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ...
[An-Naḥl: 105]
“Indeed, only those who do not believe in the signs of Allah fabricate lies. They are the true liars.”
This affirms that lying is antithetical to true faith.
❸ Combining Both Narrations Yields Five Signs of a Hypocrite:
① When he speaks, he lies.
② When he makes a promise, he breaks it.
③ When he makes a pact, he betrays it.
④ When entrusted, he betrays the trust.
⑤ When he disputes, he behaves immorally.
On reflection, immoral conduct during disputes is a subset of lying, as foul speech often involves falsehood. Similarly, breaching a pact is a form of breaking a promise, though more severe due to possible oaths. Hence, the core signs reduce to three, as in the narration of Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه).
These three reflect corruption in all dimensions of trustworthiness (amānah):
- In speech (lying)
- In intention (breaking promises)
- In action (betraying trust)
Three Core Types of Dishonesty
① Lying in speech — includes foul language during disputes.② Breaking promises — rooted in dishonest intention. If the person never intended to fulfil the promise or abandons the intention later, he is sinful. However, if the promise is not fulfilled due to genuine inability, he is excused:
لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا [Al-Baqarah: 286]
③ Breach of trust — dishonesty in action, though it often includes deceit in speech and intention too.
Clarifying a Common Question
If these traits are sometimes found in Muslims, does that make them hypocrites? The answer is detailed in two parts:❶ Two Types of Nifāq (Hypocrisy):
- Creedal Hypocrisy (Nifāq ʿItiqādī):
Where a person internally disbelieves in Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) but outwardly claims Islam. This is the greater hypocrisy, and such people are disbelievers who will dwell in the lowest depths of Hell. This occurred in the Prophet's (ﷺ) time and still exists among modern-day secularists or opportunists who claim Islam for worldly gain. - Practical Hypocrisy (Nifāq ʿAmalī):
When a person outwardly displays righteous actions but contradicts them in practice. These are the traits mentioned in the hadith. When all are present, the person’s actions are completely corrupt and dishonest, giving the appearance of goodness while being false within.
❷ Frequent vs. Occasional Occurrence:
The hadith does not imply that one becomes a hypocrite for committing such sins once or twice. A believer can err. However, if these sins become habitual, then such a person embodies hypocrisy, both in practice and in belief.
If a person consistently lies, never fulfills promises, and betrays trust, it becomes clear that he lacks real faith. Lying contradicts belief itself:
إِنَّمَا يَفْتَرِي الْكَذِبَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ...
[An-Naḥl: 105]
Such habitual behavior leads to loss of faith. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ، وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ
[Bukhārī 6094]
“Lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire.”
Conclusion
❖ The signs of hypocrisy are deeply rooted in dishonesty of speech, intent, and action.❖ Creedal hypocrisy is outright disbelief, while practical hypocrisy may lead to it if unchecked.
❖ Occasional sin does not make one a hypocrite, but habitual display of these signs signals a corrupted heart, potentially void of faith.
