Lesson twenty seven
The Signs of Hypocrisy
Abu Huraira reported that, the holy prophet said: "The signs of hypocrite are three: He lies when he discusses or speaks, when he promises he breaks his promise and when he is trusted he betrays" . Al-Bukhary and Muslim. In the past lesson, we saw the three stages through which man passes to feel the sweetness of faith or belief in his heart through his life. And that is the belief the hadith refers to "Three things man shelter in, get the sweetness of belief...." .So, Belief is the main base that changes someone to be generous, kind, merciful and sympathetic to every one for the sake of God.
And by the above hadith, the holy Prophet (cpth) wants to show us three qualities of a hypocrite which is contrary to that of a believer.
The explanation of some of its terms:
- Signs: It is the clear phenomenon or something clearly seen or felt.
- Hypocrite: Is someone who has no belief in God in his heart.
- Trust: Means to put something temporally in his keeping.
Detailed explanation of the hadith
Who is a hypocrite?
A hypocrite is the one who claims for faithfulness and righteousness... The noble hadith discloses a hypocrite to us using a word "Sign" i.e. doing something during his life that shows that truly he is a hypocrite by exposing his inner feeling to please peop le without God due to the fact that, his heart is empty of belief. See details below...
Firstly: Discussion: You will see his behaviour contrary to his faith. He talks without evidence nor detailed verification to prove what he is saying. Normally it is not easy for someone reporting an event that took place in his absence to assure it without evidence. He who does that shall face severe punishment on the day of judgement from God the Almighty because the false (lie) part of it will put people in a great danger. That is what the phrase "When he discusses or speaks, he lies" . All his lies telling are recorded in a book of record to be visible before him on the day of judgement. God says: (Not a word does he (she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready to record it) Fortress 50, Qaf, verse 18.That his lie is not only to others but himself is included, for instance when he is saying that, he is a believer, is he not lying to himself while his heart is empty of belief? You will also see him preaching of goodness, high moralities, kindness, good characters and keep to the word of God while he is not practising any of that. And you find him pretending in performing: Prayers, Pilgrimage and charity publicly just to please people to say that he is a believer while he is not. But all the above mentioned has to be the work of heart for the sake of God as a true believer with the sweetness of belief in his heart does and careless about people. Since a hypocrite has lot of earthly desires in his heart, he does his work based on people appreciation. That is why he always voices out whatever he is doing. And God says: (Saying in their mouths what is not in their hearts and God has full knowledge of what they conceal). Fortress 3, Al-Imran, verse 167.
Secondly: And whenever he promises to help someone, he will shortly break the promise. Now what will he tell him when he meets him? Of course he will lie because lie is well prepared in his mouth to defend himself of what makes him breaking the promise by inventing unreal story. And that is what the hadith is pointing at "When he promises he breaks it" . And when this hypocrite is serving in a public post like: Medical, blacksmith, trading etc, he will over suffer the customers and clients by failing their promises and in not perfecting his work. The holy prophet (cpth) says: "indeed, the Almighty God loves to see if any of you do his work, do it excellently" . Aljami-ul swaghir /1861/.
Thirdly: This third point (trust) is not less important than the first two points (lie and breaking promise) but it is one of the greatest bad qualities of a hypocrite. The man is not the owner of trust so he must render it back to the owner exactly as it was given. God says: (Indeed, God commands that you should render back the trust to those whom they are due to...) Fortress 4, An-Nisaa verse 58.Normally, a hypocrite does neither render trust to the owner, nor does maintain it in its position. Take for instance, if you send him to a person with something, he will agree to you and will betray him later. He prepared lies to defend himself why he breaks or violates the trust. Note that, trust also includes all the provision given to man by God that they will one day return to God after a man dies. All he is having are temporal; his body will obviously turn to soil, he owns nothing. These trusts are given to him so that he uses them properly by doing good to others, and serving them to enter the prepared Paradise ‘tomorrow’. Man ca me to this world free handed and will leave as he came carrying nothing except his deeds. For that reason, all things he has in this life undoubtedly are mere trusts, such as the eyesight which has been given to him by The Almighty Al’lah is a trust and he has to use it through what pleases Al’lah, likewise hearing, mouth...etc and all the senses and organs of the body must be properly used according to what they were created for, thus pleasing God of their duties. He should not betray any of these trusts using it in a way that angers God. God commends those of His pure believers who keep Amant "trust" by saying:
(And those who are faithfully true to their amanat (all the duties which God has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts) and to their covenants) Fortress
23, Al-Muminun, verse 8.