How Should a Muslim Deal With Hypocrites?
كيف يتعامل الإنسان المسلم مع المنافقين؟
How should a Muslim treat and deal with hypocrites?
The answer says a Muslim treats hypocrites by their outward state, as the Prophet did, so whoever shows Islam is treated as a Muslim, while staying cautious of their scheming (Al-Munafiqun 63:4); in the Hereafter they are treated in the opposite way (Al-Hadid 57:13-15).
1. Outward Treatment and Inner Caution
A person treats them according to their outward state: whoever shows Islam is treated as a Muslim in all matters of life, but with great caution against them and their scheming, as Allah said to His Prophet: (They are the enemy, so beware of them) Al-Munafiqun 63:4.
2. The Prophetic Methodology
It is known from the Prophet's dealings with them that he did not treat them by what Allah had told him of their inner state, but by their outward state: whoever showed Islam was a Muslim before society and the law.
3. The Ultimate Divine Justice
This legal treatment is part of Allah's requiting their deception: in this world they are treated as Muslims, but in the Hereafter they will be treated in the exact opposite way.
As Allah says: (On the Day the hypocrite men and women will say to those who believed: Wait for us, that we may take some of your light. It will be said: Go back behind you and seek light. Then a wall with a gate will be set up between them; inside it is mercy, and outside it, on its side, is the punishment. They will call out to them: Were we not with you? They will say: Yes, but you tempted yourselves, waited, doubted, and were deluded by wishful thinking until the command of Allah came, and the Deceiver deceived you about Allah. So today no ransom will be taken from you, nor from those who disbelieved. Your refuge is the Fire; it is your patron, and what a wretched destination.) Surah Al-Hadid 57:13-15.
كيف يتعامل الإنسان المسلم مع المنافقين؟
يبين الجواب أن المسلم يعامل المنافقين بظاهر أحوالهم كما فعل النبي ﷺ، فمن أظهر الإسلام عومل به، مع الحذر من مكرهم (المنافقون 63:4)، أما في الآخرة فيعاملون بضد ذلك (الحديد 57:13-15).
المعاملة الظاهرة والحذر
يعاملهم الإنسان بظاهر أحوالهم، فمن أظهر الإسلام يعامله بالإسلام في جميع شؤون الحياة. ولكن مع الحذر الشديد منهم ومن مكرهم، كما قال الله تعالى لنبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم: (هُمُ الْعَدُوُّ فَاحْذَرْهُمْ) المنافقون 63:4.
الهدي النبوي
والمعلوم من تعامل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم معهم أنه لم يعاملهم بأنه يعلم بواطنهم بما أعلمه الله، وإنما عاملهم على ظاهر أحوالهم، فمن أظهر الإسلام فهو مسلم أمام المجتمع والقانون.
العدالة الإلهية المطلقة
وهذا الأمر الشرعي لهم من خداع الله عز وجل لهم، فهم يعاملون في الدنيا معاملة المسلمين لكنهم في الآخرة يعاملون بضد ذلك تماما.
كما قال الله تعالى: (يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا انْظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِنْ نُورِكُمْ قِيلَ ارْجِعُوا وَرَاءَكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُوا نُورًا فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِسُورٍ لَهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَاهِرُهُ مِنْ قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ (١٣) يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُنْ مَعَكُمْ قَالُوا بَلَى وَلَكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنْتُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَارْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ الْأَمَانِيُّ حَتَّى جَاءَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ (١٤) فَالْيَوْمَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْكُمْ فِدْيَةٌ وَلَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ هِيَ مَوْلَاكُمْ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ) الحديد 57: 13 إلى 15.
1. We Take You by What Appears | نأخذكم بما ظهر لنا
Umar ibn al-Khattab said: People used to be taken to account by revelation in the time of the Messenger of Allah, and revelation has ended; we now take you by what appears to us of your deeds. Whoever shows us good, we trust him and bring him near, and we have nothing to do with his inner self; Allah will hold him to account for it (Sahih al-Bukhari 2641). This is the outward treatment the answer describes.
قال عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه: "إن أناسا كانوا يؤخذون بالوحي في عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وإن الوحي قد انقطع، وإنما نأخذكم الآن بما ظهر لنا من أعمالكم، فمن أظهر لنا خيرا أمناه وقربناه، وليس إلينا من سريرته شيء، الله يحاسبه في سريرته" (صحيح البخاري 2641). وهذه هي المعاملة بالظاهر التي ذكرها الجواب.
2. Lest People Say Muhammad Kills His Companions | لا يتحدث الناس أن محمدا يقتل أصحابه
When Abdullah ibn Ubayy said: if we return to Madinah, the more honorable will expel the lowlier from it, Umar said: O Messenger of Allah, let me strike the neck of this hypocrite. The Prophet said: Leave him, lest people say that Muhammad kills his companions (Sahih al-Bukhari 4905). He knew the man's state, yet treated him by what he showed.
لما قال عبد الله بن أبي: "لئن رجعنا إلى المدينة ليخرجن الأعز منها الأذل"، قال عمر: "يا رسول الله دعني أضرب عنق هذا المنافق"، فقال النبي ﷺ: "دعه لا يتحدث الناس أن محمدا يقتل أصحابه" (صحيح البخاري 4905). فقد عامله بما أظهر مع علمه بحاله.
3. Turn Away From Them and Admonish Them | فأعرض عنهم وعظهم
Allah says of the hypocrites: those are the ones of whom Allah knows what is in their hearts, so turn away from them, admonish them, and speak to them about themselves with effective words (An-Nisa 4:63). Ibn Kathir explains: do not rebuke them harshly for what is in their hearts, warn them against the hypocrisy and hidden evil in their hearts, and advise them privately with words that deter them.
أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَعِظْهُمْ وَقُل لَّهُمْ فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ قَوْلًا بَلِيغًا (سورة النساء: 63)
قال تعالى: أولئك الذين يعلم الله ما في قلوبهم فأعرض عنهم وعظهم وقل لهم في أنفسهم قولا بليغا (النساء 4:63). قال ابن كثير: "(فأعرض عنهم) أي: لا تعنفهم على ما في قلوبهم (وعظهم) أي: وانههم على ما في قلوبهم من النفاق وسرائر الشر (وقل لهم في أنفسهم قولا بليغا) أي: وانصحهم فيما بينك وبينهم بكلام بليغ رادع لهم".
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
How should Muslims treat the hypocrites?
By their outward state: whoever shows Islam is treated as a Muslim, with caution against their scheming, as Allah said: they are the enemy, so beware of them (Al-Munafiqun 63:4).
Why did the Prophet not punish the hypocrites he knew?
When Umar asked to kill Abdullah ibn Ubayy, the Prophet said: leave him, lest people say that Muhammad kills his companions (Sahih al-Bukhari 4905).
Can we judge the hidden intentions of people?
No. Umar said: we take you by what appears to us of your deeds; we have nothing to do with his inner self, and Allah will hold him to account for it (Sahih al-Bukhari 2641).
What happens to the hypocrites on the Day of Judgment?
They ask the believers for some of their light, and a wall is set between them, with mercy inside and punishment outside (Al-Hadid 57:13).