What Are the Traits of a Hypocrite?
ما هي صفات المنافقين؟
What are the traits of a hypocrite?
The answer names five traits of the hypocrites: saying with their tongues what is not in their hearts, deceiving the believers with a show of faith and affection, corrupting the land while claiming to reform it, allying with the disbelievers against the believers, and refusing the judgment of Allah and His Messenger (An-Nisa 4:61).
The Five Key Traits
Through Islamic texts, we find that the traits of a hypocrite include:
1. Deception in Speech
They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Their outward speech completely contradicts their inner beliefs, which are full of malice.
2. False Affection
They deceive the believers by showing them faith and affection, to gain their trust and worldly benefits.
3. Corruption Disguised as Reform
They corrupt the land by word and deed while claiming that they are setting things right, seeking reform by unlawful means.
4. Treacherous Alliances
They take the disbelievers as allies and support them against the believers. In times of conflict, their true loyalty always stands with the enemies of Islam.
5. Rejecting Divine Law
They abandon seeking judgment from Allah and His Messenger. When they are called to judgment by the Quran and the Sunnah, they openly refuse.
The Evidence from the Noble Quran
(When it is said to them, "Come to Allah's revelations and to the Messenger," you see the hypocrites turn away from you stubbornly.) Surah An Nisa'a 4: 61.
(The hypocrites, both men, and women, are all alike: they encourage what is evil, forbid what is good, and withhold what is in their hands. They neglected Allah, so He neglected them. Surely the hypocrites are the rebellious.) Surah At Tawbah 9: 67.
ما هي صفات المنافقين؟
يذكر الجواب خمس صفات للمنافقين: مخالفة أقوالهم لما في قلوبهم، وأن يخادعوا المؤمنين بإظهار الإيمان والمودة، والإفساد في الأرض مع زعم الإصلاح، وموالاة الكافرين على المؤمنين، وترك التحاكم إلى الله ورسوله (النساء 4:61).
الصفات الخمس الرئيسية
من خلال النصوص الإسلامية، نجد أن من صفات المنافقين:
1. الخداع في القول
أنهم يقولون بألسنتهم ما ليس في قلوبهم. فكلامهم الظاهر يتناقض تماما مع معتقداتهم الداخلية المليئة بالحقد.
2. المودة الكاذبة
أنهم يخادعون المؤمنين بإظهار الإيمان والمودة لهم لكسب الثقة والمنافع الدنيوية.
3. الإفساد بغطاء الإصلاح
يفسدون في الأرض بالقول والفعل مع زعمهم أنهم يصلحون وذلك من خلال ابتغاء الإصلاح من طرق غير مشروعة.
4. التحالفات الغادرة
موالاة الكافرين ونصرتهم على المؤمنين. ففي أوقات النزاع تقف ولاءاتهم الحقيقية دائما مع أعداء الإسلام.
5. رفض حكم الله
ترك التحاكم إلى الله ورسوله. فعندما يدعون للاحتكام إلى القرآن والسنة فإنهم يرفضون ذلك صراحة.
الأدلة من القرآن الكريم
قال الله تعالى: (وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ رَأَيْتَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَنكَ صُدُودًا) النساء 4: 61.
وقال جل جلاله: (الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ بَعْضُهُم مِّن بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمُنكَرِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَقْبِضُونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ ۚ نَسُوا اللَّـهَ فَنَسِيَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ) التوبة 9: 67.
1. Corruption in the Name of Reform | الإفساد باسم الإصلاح
Allah says of the hypocrites: when it is said to them, do not spread corruption in the land, they say, we are only reformers (Al-Baqarah 2:11). Ibn Kathir reports from Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas'ud, and other Companions that corruption here is disbelief and acting in disobedience, and from Abu al-Aliyah that whoever disobeys Allah on earth, or commands disobedience to Him, has spread corruption in it, because the good of the earth and the heavens is through obedience.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ (سورة البقرة: 11)
قال تعالى: وإذا قيل لهم لا تفسدوا في الأرض قالوا إنما نحن مصلحون (البقرة 2:11). ونقل ابن كثير عن ابن عباس وابن مسعود وناس من الصحابة: "الفساد هو الكفر، والعمل بالمعصية"، وعن أبي العالية: "لأنه من عصى الله في الأرض أو أمر بمعصية الله فقد أفسد في الأرض؛ لأن صلاح الأرض والسماء بالطاعة".
2. Seeking Honor With the Disbelievers | يبتغون عندهم العزة
Allah describes the hypocrites as those who take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers, and asks: do they seek honor with them? All honor belongs to Allah (An-Nisa 4:139). Ibn Kathir explains that they are with the disbelievers in reality, give them their loyalty, and confide their affection to them.
الَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ الْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ الْعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا (سورة النساء: 139)
قال تعالى: الذين يتخذون الكافرين أولياء من دون المؤمنين أيبتغون عندهم العزة فإن العزة لله جميعا (النساء 4:139). قال ابن كثير: "بمعنى أنهم معهم في الحقيقة، يوالونهم ويسرون إليهم بالمودة".
3. The Heaviest Prayers for the Hypocrites | أثقل الصلاة على المنافقين
The Prophet said: No prayer is heavier on the hypocrites than Fajr and Isha; if they knew what is in them, they would come to them even crawling (Sahih al-Bukhari 657). Ibn Kathir explains that the hypocrites often stay away from the prayers in which they are usually not seen, Isha in the dark of night and Fajr before dawn, because they attend prayer only to be seen.
قال النبي ﷺ: "ليس صلاة أثقل على المنافقين من الفجر والعشاء، ولو يعلمون ما فيهما لأتوهما ولو حبوا" (صحيح البخاري 657). قال ابن كثير: "ولهذا يتخلفون كثيرا عن الصلاة التي لا يرون غالبا فيها كصلاة العشاء وقت العتمة، وصلاة الصبح في وقت الغلس".
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What are the traits of a hypocrite in Islam?
The answer lists five: saying what is not in their hearts, deceiving believers with a show of faith, corrupting while claiming reform, allying with the disbelievers against the believers, and refusing the judgment of Allah and His Messenger.
What does closing their hands mean in At-Tawbah 9:67?
Ibn Kathir explains it as withholding spending in the way of Allah.
Do hypocrites admit that they cause corruption?
No. When told not to spread corruption, they say: we are only reformers (Al-Baqarah 2:11); the Companions explained corruption here as disbelief and disobedience.
Which prayers are heaviest on the hypocrites?
Fajr and Isha, as the Prophet said (Sahih al-Bukhari 657); Ibn Kathir explains that they are usually not seen at those times.