Nifaaq (hypocrisy) is a very serious issue. Allah (SWT) has informed us in the Qur’an that the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of Hell. But what is hypocrisy?
Nifaaq comes from the word nafaq, which means tunnel or hole. It is something which takes you from one place to another. Anfaqa is when something leaves one hand and goes to another, like when a man spends on his wife. And in the Deen it is when a person leaves one side and goes to the other. Therefore, linguistically nifaaq means infaaq (when something leaves one hand and goes to another).
In Islam, however, the definition differs from the linguistic meaning. In Islam it is Izhaar ul-Islaami wa-Israar ul-kufr, or to show Islam in your public life but conceal kufr in your heart. Imam Ibn Jurayj (RH) said:
المنافق يخالف قوله فعله، وسره علانيته، ومدخله مخرجه
“The hypocrite is the one whose sayings contradict his actions; what he conceals (his inner) contradicts what he shows (his apparent); and his entrance and presence are not the same as his exit and absence.” (At-Tabari 1/270)
So hypocrisy is to hide kufr and show Islam. Hypocrisy in belief is major hypocrisy (nifaaq akbar), and this is to hide kufr. When a person does not believe in his heart he will be in Hellfire forever; in fact, the hypocrite will be in the lowest part of Hell. Allah (SWT) says:
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الأسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا
Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them. (Al-Nisaa, 4:145)
The disbelievers are both internally and externally Kaafir. The hypocrites, on the other hand, are Kaafir on the inside but Muslim on the outside. Both disbelievers and hypocrites will be in Hell forever, but the hypocrites will be in its deepest part, as stated in the above verse. Allah (SWT) says:
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتِ وَالْكُفَّارَ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا هِيَ حَسْبُهُمْ وَلَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُقِيمٌ
Allah has promised the hypocrites; men and women, and the disbelievers, the Fire of Hell, therein shall they abide. It will suffice them. Allah has cursed them and for them is the lasting torment. (Al-Tawbah, 9:68)
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّى يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِثْلُهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَامِعُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَالْكَافِرِينَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ جَمِيعًا
And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Qur’an) that when you hear the Verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them. Surely, Allah will collect the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell. (Al-Nisaa, 4:140)
How many so-called Muslims today are actually munaafiqeen? You can see it (hypocrisy) in their eyes, hear it from their mouths and see it in their actions – standing with the Kuffaar, hating Muslims, loving the Jews and Christians, and much more. They claim to be Muslims yet ally with the enemies of Allah. The munaafiqeen usually live among us but we do not know who they are because their kufr is concealed in their hearts. But Allah has blessed us with the ability to read their signs.
However, not every person who displays the signs of a hypocrite is a munaafiq. Broadly speaking, there are two types of hypocrisy, al-nifaaqu nifaaqaan:
- Nifaaq I’tiqaadi (nifaaq akbar, or major nifaaq)
- Nifaaq ‘Amali (nifaaq asghar, or lesser nifaaq)
Nifaaq I’tiqaadi is the major form of hypocrisy which we have discussed above. It is when a person shows Islam but conceals kufr.
Nifaaq ‘Amali is hypocrisy in one’s apparent actions. The one who commits nifaaq ul-‘amal (hypocrisy in their actions) is one who believes in Islam but whose actions appear to be those of the munaafiqeen.
Some ulamaa have said:
الغيرة من الايمان والمِذاء من النفاق
“Gheerah is from Imaan and midhaa’ is from nifaaq.”
Gheerah has been praised in Islam and means to be over-protective and jealous. A man who has gheerah doesn’t like other men looking at his wife, mother or sister, and so forth. Al-Midhaa’ is the opposite of gheerah, so the one who has midhaa’ is not bothered by other men talking to his wife or free-mixing with her. Al-Midhaa’ is from nifaaq ‘amali.
There is also another form of major hypocrisy today, and that is the taqiyyah of the Shee’ah Raafidah. Taqiyyah means to say or do a thing which one rejects in the heart. In Islam there can be a permit for this if one is under duress, as Allah (SWT) says:
لا يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِنْ دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلا أَنْ تَتَّقُوا مِنْهُمْ تُقَاةً وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ الْمَصِيرُ
Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Awliyaa’ (supporters, helpers, etc.) instead of the believers. And whoever does that will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself (His Punishment), and to Allah is the final return. (Aal ‘Imraan, 3:28)
مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالإيمَانِ وَلَكِنْ مَنْ شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Imaan but such as open their breasts to disbelief, on them is wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a great torment. (Al-Nahl, 16:106)
A believer has the permit to utter something kufr in order to protect his life, wealth or honour, on condition that he is satisfied with Imaan in the heart. However, the taqiyyah of the Shee’ah today is hypocrisy because they have no duress and practise it as a way of life. When they come to you they agree with you, but when they turn away they laugh at you. Imam Ibn Katheer (RH) said:
It is better and preferable for the Muslim to remain steadfast in his religion, even if that leads to him being killed, as was mentioned by Al-Haafiz Ibn `Asaakir in his biography of `Abdullah bin Hudhaafah Al-Sahmi, one of the Companions. He said that he was taken prisoner by the Romans, who brought him to their king. The king said, “Become a Christian, and I will give you a share of my kingdom and my daughter in marriage.” `Abdullah said: “If you were to give me all that you possess and all that Arabs possess to make me give up the religion of Muhammad even for an instant, I would not do it.” The king said, “Then I will kill you.” `Abdullah said, “It is up to you.” The king gave orders that he should be crucified, and commanded his archers to shoot near his hands and feet while ordering him to become a Christian, but he still refused. Then the king gave orders that he should be brought down, and that a big vessel made of copper be brought and heated up. Then, while `Abdullah was watching, one of the Muslim prisoners was brought out and thrown into it, until all that was left of him was scorched bones. The king ordered him to become a Christian, but he still refused. Then he ordered that `Abdullah be thrown into the vessel, and he was brought back to the pulley to be thrown in. `Abdullah wept, and the king hoped that he would respond to him, so he called him, but `Abdullah said, “I only weep because I have only one soul with which to be thrown into this vessel at this moment for the sake of Allah; I wish that I had as many souls as there are hairs on my body with which I could undergo this torture for the sake of Allah.” According to some reports, the king imprisoned him and deprived him of food and drink for several days, then he sent him wine and pork, and he did not come near them. Then the king called him and asked him, “What stopped you from eating” `Abdullah said, “It is permissible for me [under these circumstances], but I did not want to give you the opportunity to gloat.” The king said to him, “Kiss my head and I will let you go.” `Abdullah said, “And will you release all the Muslim prisoners with me” The king said, “Yes.” So `Abdullah kissed his head and he released him and all the other Muslim prisoners he was holding. When he came back, `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, “Every Muslim should kiss the head of `Abdullah bin Hudhafah, and I will be the first to do so.” And he stood up and kissed his head. May Allah be pleased with them both. (Tafseer Soorah al-Nahl, 16:106)
Major nifaaq has six foundations:
- The one who disbelieves in Rasoolullah (SAW)
- Denying some of what the Messenger of Allah (SAW) came with
- To hate the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) or what he came with
- To believe that you are not obliged to obey the Messenger Muhammad (SAW)
- The one who becomes happy and joyful when Islam is being attacked
- The one who becomes upset whenever the Deen prevails
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