The Types of Hypocrisy by Muhaddith Al-‘Asr Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Yūsuf Binnorī rahimahullāh
Translated by: Mufti Abdullah Moolla
One of the grave sins which draw the anger of Allāh Ta’ālā, as we learn from divine revelation, is a conflict and contrast between word and deed. In Sūrah As-Saff, Allāh Ta’ālā says:
‘O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do?’ [verse 2]
In reality, Nifāq, loosely translated as hypocrisy, is where there is one thing on the tongue and something else in the heart. There is a severe warning announced for the Munāfiqīn:
‘Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the fire.’ [Sūrah An-Nisā’: 145]
Three Forms of Nifāq
According to the technical definitions in Islām, Ilhād and Zandaqah bear the same purport of Nifāq (as detailed above). The jurists have explained a Zindīq to be a person who claims Islām with his tongue but hides disbelief in his heart. Hence, a conflict between the word on the tongue and the belief in the heart is Nifāq. There are three forms of it:
- The belief in the heart is correct but the deed and practice of the person conflicts with it. This is Nifāq fil ‘Amal.
- In the heart, a person has no belief in Allāh Ta’ālā and His Messenger sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and he makes the outward claim of Islām. This is Nifāq fil I’tiqād. This is clear and open disbelief. Those who are guilty of this will be in the depths of the fire.
- A person has disbelief in the heart but he outwardly does not deny Islām. Apparently, he attests to Islām and at the same time, he resorts to interpolation and proposes far-fetched interpretations for the Noble Qur’ān, the Blessed Ahādīth and the clear texts of the scholars of Islām. He attaches his baseless and false beliefs to the texts by doing this. This is Ilhād and Zandaqah. This form of Nifāq is the worst of all.
According to the consensus of the scholars, the repentance made by a Munāfiq is accepted. However, the repentance made by a Zindīq is not worthy of any attention according to some ‘Ulamā’.
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Differences Between the Three Forms
The difference between the three levels is that in the case of Nifāq fil ‘Amal, the īman and beliefs of a person will remain intact. Moreover, many branches of his deeds and actions will remain, but there is Nifāq in certain parts of his deeds.
In Nifāq fil I’tiqād, there is no īmān and no Islām. There is no belief system a person adheres to. There are no deeds to speak of. It is only verbal claims, i.e., whilst a person has pure disbelief within, he claims Islām.
The third level is even worse. Together with Nifāq fil I’tiqād, the person adds interpolation in the clear cut and explicit texts. In other words, by means of blasphemous interpretations and interpolations, he wants to speak about Islām.
In short, where there is a conflict between word and deed, or there is hypocrisy, it is a severe crime in the sight of Allāh Ta’ālā. It is a means of bringing the anger of Allāh Ta’ālā upon one’s self.
Today, this seems to be the general and common crime of some Muslims. They make claims of Islām with the tongue, but they do such actions which put even the disbelievers to shame. The leaders as well as the masses are involved in this sin. (May Allāh Ta’ālā forgive the Muslim Ummah for their shortcomings and grant them the divine guidance to remain firm upon īmān and be true to their word. Āmīn)
When it comes to Nifāq fil ‘Amal, then almost everyone is guilty of it, as people make verbal claims but do something else. However, when it comes to Nifāq fil I’tiqād, then there definitely are some who suffer from this disease, i.e., they are only called Muslims because they mix and associate with Muslims, otherwise, there is no Islām in their hearts. They do not have any honour for the religion brought by Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, nor do they believe in and accept the instructions of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
There are many people who judge and measure Islām according to their tastes and desires, as though they were not created to obey Islām. They feel that Islām has come to follow behind the whims and desires of man. They do not feel obliged to bring their lives in accordance to the teachings of Islām, rather, they want Islām to fit in with the desires of man. This is the present-day form of “progress” in Zandaqah.
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In summary, generally speaking, the Muslims are involved in Nifāq fil ‘Amal or Nifāq fil I’tiqād. Today, we have fallen prey to disgrace. In essence, this is a result of living a mode of life tainted by this type of hypocrisy.
[May Allāh Ta’ālā guide us all to the straight path, fill our hearts with the love of Islām and Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and bless us with the divine ability to live as true Muslims – as true to Islām as a Muslim can ever be. Through the blessings of this, may Allāh Ta’ālā bless us with entry into Jannah and His eternal pleasure. Āmīn]Follow Mufti Abdullah on Twitter: @MuftiAMoolla
Notes
Source: Basā’ir wa ‘Ibar vol.1 pp.188-190
Since Zandaqah includes by definition disbelief in the heart, which is not visible, how are we able to classify a person as a Zindiqh? Can we do so merely based on their blasphemous interpretations and interpolations?
I’m asking because I feel that in certain cases it can be helpful to classify some individuals, who posses at least the visible traits, as Zanadiqah. Because if proven, it eliminates the possibility for any Muslim to make excuses for them in terms of marriage, burying them as Muslims when they die and taking religious knowledge from them.
In an ideal and proper Islamic system, the classification can be done by the court and the subsequent marriage laws, burial laws etc. can be applied accordingly. However, in a non-Muslim society, we must do our utmost best to educate and warn the people of the various problematic issues they can fall into.
It is not our duty to classify individuals. If an individual is guilty of blasphemy, hypocrisy, incorrect interpretations and the like, then it must be pointed out by the scholars and Muslims who are aware of the reality. Once this is done, the Muslims must take it upon themselves to stay away from that which is wrong and deviated.
As for taking knowledge, then there are many reliable and true scholars that one can easily find. The effort must be made by us. I would suggest that one studies the signs of the true scholars, as detailed by Imam Ghazali rahimahullah, and hold onto those in whom the signs are found.
JAK for the answer.
Islam was spread by the sword-convert or die. Christians brought advancement to the nations it colonized. India is a prime example. Many people in those colonized nations say they wish Britain had stayed longer as there was more work to do. Muslims are still murdering Christians in Africa and in Muslim countries around the world. They murder Jews as well but there are no Jews living in those countries. They were expelled in 1948-1952- there possessions and wealth confiscated. 800,000 moved to Israel and are now a thriving population integrated into society. Not only are Jews not allowed but they dot even accept “Palestinians” because they want their brothers to remain in “refugee camps” as a thorn in the side of Israel. They don’t even care about their own people.
The facts reveal something very different.
It seems that you are willfully overlooking the Crusades – the bloody and extremely violent atrocities committed against Muslims with the blessings of the Pope. I would like to draw your attention to the earliest Muslims – who were subjected to torture in order to make them renounce Islam, but they did not. Was Islam spread amongst them by the sword?
Could you kindly explain how raping the colonized nations of their natural resources and spreading corruption and immorality has benefitted the local populace?
Yes Christians brought advancement to India,
If looting the resources of country is considered as advancement and
If massacring the people is advancement.
catholic did too
Bro David, your ignorance is Deeeeepp man. “Christians brought advancement to the nations it colonized. India is a prime example.” — hahahahaha
Speechless. To think that someone in this modern day age where information is so abundant, yet is still this ignorant.