Signs of a Hypocrite

 

• O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?
• Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do.   [Quran (Surah As-Saff: 2-3)]

In explanation of these verses Sheikh Moududi states:

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One meaning of these verses is that there should be complete agreement between a true Muslim’s word and deed: he should carry into effect whatever he says, and when he has no intention of doing it, or has no power for it, he should not say it. To say one thing and do another is one of the most hideous characteristics of man, in the sight of Allah. The Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah’s peace) has explained that a person’s being characterized by this quality is a sign that he is not a believer but a hypocrite. According to a .Hadith he said;
The hypocrite has three signs even if he offered the Prayer and observed the Fast, and professed to be a Muslim: That then he spoke he lied; when he made a promise, he broke it; and when he was entrusted with something, he proved dishonest. ” (Bukhari, Muslim) .

In another Hadith he said:

“Four characteristics are such that the one who has all the four, is a hypocrite through and through, and the one who has one of these, has one characteristic of hypocrisy in him until he gives it up: that when he is entrusted with something, he proves dishonest; when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he quarrels he crosses all limits of morality and decency.” (Bukhari, Muslim).
The jurists of Islam have almost unanimously held the view that if a person makes a pledge to AIlah (e.g.. vows to do some thing), or enters an agreement with others, or promised somebody to do something, it is obligatory for him to fulfill it, unless the thing he has promised is by itself sinful. If it is sinful, he should not observe or carry out the agreement or promise, but should expiate its violation as is also mentioned in Surah AI-Ma’idah. (AI-Jassas and Ibn al’Arabi, Ahkam al-Qur-an an). [Source: Tafheem Al-Quran by Sheikh Abul A’la Moududi].