“And of the people are some who say, “We believe in Allah and the Last Day,” but they are not believers. They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not. In their hearts is disease, so Allah has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie.”
These verses refer to the hypocrites living in Medina who pretended to be muslims for worldly reasons, such as gaining wealth and protection. Muslims must pay heed to their characteristics and avoid them in order to ensure they do not behave like them, as the one who behaves like a group of people, belongs to them. This has been warned in a Hadith found in Sunan Abu Dawud, number 4031.
The importance of adopting good companionship is noted in the first verse where a single person speaks on behalf of a group. This indicates that one adopts the characteristics and attitude of their companions whether negative or positive, subtle or apparent. This has been advised in a Hadith found in Sahih Bukhari, number 5534. Therefore, one must adopt the company of good people who strive to sincerely obey Allah, the Exalted. The disease of the spiritual heart, which takes the form of negative characteristics, such as greed and envy, are in reality infectious and can easily transfer from person to person. If one accompanies the one with a diseased spiritual heart, it is only a matter of time before their spiritual heart also becomes diseased. This leads to the disobedience of Allah, the Exalted, and therefore difficulties in both worlds.
One must avoid adopting their attitude whereby their claim belief in Islam through their tongues but fail to show it in their actions. This would involve using the blessings one has been granted in ways pleasing to Allah, the Exalted, as outlined in the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. The one who fails to support their verbal declaration of faith with actions will have no supporting evidence to show on Judgement Day and as a result, they may well share the fate of the hypocrites. Real belief involves internal belief supported by external actions.
Chapter 2 Al Baqarah, verses 8-9:
“And of the people are some who say, “We believe in Allāh and the Last Day,” but they are not believers. They [think to] deceive Allāh and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.”
The hypocrites during the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, attempted to deceive the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, but in reality they only deceived themselves, as their attitude only caused harm to themselves. Chapter 35 Fatir, verse 43:
“…but the evil plot does not encompass except its own people. Then do they await except the way [i.e., fate] of the former peoples?…”
One should note that even though the hypocrites desired to deceive the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, yet Allah, the Exalted, labelled their attitude as an attempt to deceive Him. This indicates the importance of remaining sincerely obedient to the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, as this is the same as sincerely obeying Allah, the Exalted. Chapter 4 An Nisa, verse 80:
“He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah…”
This indicates the importance of understanding and acting on Islamic knowledge, such as the Holy Quran, in light of the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, as he is the practical Islamic role model which must be followed in all aspects of one’s life. Chapter 3 Alee Imran, verse 31:
“Say, [Prophet Muḥammad, peace and blessings be upon him], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins…””
In addition, one must avoid behaving in a deceitful manner in any situation, as any worldly thing they gain from this behaviour will only become a source of stress and anxiety for them in both worlds, even if they fail to perceive this outcome. Chapter 9 At Tawbah, verse 55:
“So let not their wealth or their children impress you. Allāh only intends to punish them through them in worldly life…”
The first sign of hypocrisy mentioned in the main verses is lying. Lying is a foul characteristic which must be avoided at all times. The one who lies to make people laugh, so their aim is not to deceive them, has been cursed three times in a single Hadith found in Jami At Tirmidhi, number 2315. From this Hadith alone, one can understand the dangers of lying. One must remember that lying and acting on lies, leads to sins, this in turn leads to the fire of Hell. The one who persists on lying and acting on them will be recorded as a great liar by Allah, the Exalted. This has been warned in a Hadith found in Jami At Tirmidhi, number 1971. It does not take a genius to figure out what will happen to this person in this world and the next. Even though it has become fashionable to belittle lying, a muslim must adhere to the teachings of Islam and avoid this attitude as it only leads to trouble in both worlds.
Chapter 2 Al Baqarah, verses 8-9:
“And of the people are some who say, “We believe in Allāh and the Last Day,” but they are not believers. They [think to] deceive Allāh and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.”
In addition, a muslim must avoid behaving like a hypocrite by verbally declaring their belief in Islam while failing to practically actualize it while believing they will gain reward and blessings in both worlds. The one who behaves in this manner is only deceiving themself. This attitude is not hope in the mercy of Allah, the Exalted, it is only wishful thinking, which has no value in Islam. Hope in Allah, the Exalted, is always tied to His practical obedience, which involves using the blessings one has been granted in ways pleasing to Him. Wishful thinking, on the other hand, is always tied with failing to sincerely obey Allah, the Exalted, and still believing they will be granted mercy and blessings in both worlds. The difference between the two has been discussed in a Hadith found in Jami At Tirmidhi, number 2459. The one who adopts wishful thinking will fail to perceive that their attitude only takes them closer to leaving this world without their faith, as they failed to nourish their plant of faith with good deeds. As a result, the negative characteristics in their spiritual heart, which behaves like cancer, will only increase, thereby causing them to persist on the disobedience of Allah, the Exalted, even more. Chapter 2 Al Baqarah, verse 10:
“In their hearts is disease, so Allāh has increased their disease…”
The more their persist on the disobedience of Allah, the Exalted, the more they will be punished in both worlds. They will continue to swear that they are devote believers who sincerely love Allah, the Exalted, but due to their insincere intention and lying attitude, they will not even understand how and why the worldly blessings they have obtained have become a source of misery for them. But what lies beyond this world for this person is even more disastrous. Chapter 2 Al Baqarah, verse 10:
“…and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie.”
And chapter 20 Taha, verses 124-126:
“And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life, and We will gather [i.e., raise] him on the Day of Resurrection blind.” He will say, “My Lord, why have you raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?” [Allāh] will say, “Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot [i.e., disregarded] them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten.””
One must therefore avoid this behaviour and outcome by sincerely obeying Allah, the Exalted, by using the blessings one has been granted in ways pleasing to Him, as outlined in the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. This will ensure one adopts good characteristics and removes the negative ones which in turn leads to a purified spiritual heart and sincere outward actions. This person will achieve success in both worlds. Chapter 16 An Nahl, verse 97:
“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.”
And chapter 26 Ash Shu’ara, verses 88-89:
“The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.”
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