Munafiqoon (Golden Words of Allah – Episode 56)
“Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire and never will you find for them a helper.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:145)
By Abdullahi Yusuf
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All perfect praise is due to Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, the Lord of the Worlds. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and Muhammad (pbuh), is His slave and final Messenger.
Introduction
Hypocrisy (nifaq) is one of the most dangerous spiritual diseases described in the Qur’an. It is the act of outwardly showing faith while concealing disbelief or insincerity in the heart. Allah has warned severely about hypocrisy, describing the hypocrites as being in the lowest depths of the Fire:
“Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire and never will you find for them a helper.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:145)
Allah mentions several traits of hypocrites in the Qur’an which we must guard against:
Lying and Betrayal
“And among them are those who made a covenant with Allah [saying], ‘If He should give us [some] of His bounty, we will surely spend in charity and we will surely be among the righteous.’ But when He gave them of His bounty, they became stingy and turned away.”
(Surah At-Tawbah 9:75-76)
Laziness in Worship
“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.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:142)
Mockery of the Believers and Allah’s Commands
“That is because they believed, and then they disbelieved; so their hearts were sealed, and they do not understand.” (Surah Al-Munafiqun 63:3)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also identified practical signs of hypocrisy: “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.” (Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)
In another narration, a fourth trait was added: “…and when he quarrels, he behaves in an evil and insulting manner.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Hypocrisy creeps into the heart subtly and, if unchecked, can destroy faith. We must examine ourselves regularly and seek refuge in Allah, just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pray: “O Allah, purify my heart from hypocrisy and my deeds from showing off, and my tongue from lying, and my eyes from treachery. Indeed, You know the treachery of the eyes and what the hearts conceal.”
And Allah knows best.
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