The Sunday Mail
HYPROCRISY is an outward display of an attitude that is opposed to your inner belief. It is to pretend to be what you are not. It is to project a desirable or publicly approved attitude or belief simply to win social acceptance, or to secure some material gain, or to win over the confidence of a people. The Islamic term for hypocrisy is “nifaaq” which is of two types. Hypocrisy with regards to belief and hypocrisy with regards to conduct.
By Umari Stambuli
Belief must be sincere
Hypocrisy pertaining to belief is to verbally declare belief in The Almighty and His Messengers while rejecting or doubting the same from within. The Holy Qur’aan refers to those who verbally claim to believe yet reject from within: “And among men are some who say: “We believe in Allah Almighty and the Last Day”, yet they are not (true) believers. They attempt to deceive Allah Almighty and those who believe (through their verbal declaration), yet they deceive none except themselves, but they perceive this not.” (Chapter 2 : verse 8 -10)
They think that they are deceiving Allah Almighty and the Believers through their verbal declaration but in reality they only deceive themselves.
This deception is a disease that gives rise to fear and stress . . . fear of being uncovered or exposed and stress of leading a double life. This disease further causes a spiritual paralysis and a jaundiced view of all things religious.
Hypocrites blaspheme in the name of “freedom of expression”
They use humour and jest (blasphemy) to express their dislike and aversion for religious teachings. In fact the hypocrites arrogantly mock and ridicule the laws of The Almighty and religion in general. Whenever they are questioned about their mockery they simply say that they were only joking and did not mean any offence — and may even go on to claim that they have the “freedom of expression”!
“The hypocrites, both men and women, are of a (similar) kind: they enjoy the doing of what is wrong and prevent the doing of what is right and withhold their hands (from giving charity or doing any good).” (Chapter 9 : verse 67) Hypocrites actively promote evil and discourage people from doing good. They do so by either questioning the wisdom of ‘good practices’ or by ridiculing them. Hypocrites generally believe that all religious and Divine Laws are unjust, sexist or irrelevant. They therefore readily look for judgements that safeguard their material and secular interests.
Making a show of one’s deeds
Hypocrisy pertaining to action is the second type of hypocrisy. It is deliberate deceptiveness based on self- interest at the cost of self-esteem. Hypocrites generally have a ‘shadow’ relationship with people; they are there during your bright moments but disappear during the darkest hours.
They need to impress others because they feel so insecure: “And when you look at them, their outward appearance may please you; and when they speak, you are inclined to listen to them. (But in reality) they are as (hollow) timber firmly propped up.”(Chapter 63:verse 4)
The Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) declared: “One of the worst people on the Day of Judgement will be the double-faced person, who comes to one group with one face and to another group with a totally different face.” This refers to an individual who smiles in your presence and spits venom in your absence. A person who changes his colours to blend with the mood of the crowd.
Evil qualities which expose a hypocrite
The Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) highlighted that: “Whoever has (all of the following) four characteristics is an absolute hypocrite and whoever has one of the four characteristics has a characteristic of hypocrisy, unless and until he gives it up – When he is entrusted he betrays his trust; when he speaks he (generally) lies; when he makes a promise he breaks his promise and when he argues he becomes vulgar and abusive.”
Hypocrites are not trustworthy, they tend to be dishonest, and they are generally non-committal and become abusive when provoked. They have no principles and wait for every opportunity to turn every event to their own advantage.
They are untrue to themselves and are in a state of continuous indecision and doubt regarding the justice and relevance of Divine Law. The test of faith is not mere lip profession, but to submit all our doubts and disputes to the One (Almighty) in whom we profess faith.
For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact:
Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars
Publications Department
P.O. Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare
Tel: 04-614078 / 614004, Fax : 04-614003
e-mail: [email protected].
