Avoid hypocrisy
One of the aspects of hypocrisy is to be doublefaced. When a double-faced person is with you, he praises you, but when he departs from you, he criticizes and backbites you. This behavior is abhorred in all faiths. During the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), there were some people who would claim to be Muslims yet actually they were not. They employed their hypocrisy to maliciously tarnish the reputation of Islam.
Allah Almighty made Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) aware of their dirty motives and vile actions. He said what can be translated as, “And when they meet those who believe, they say, ‘We believe,’ but when they turn back to their supporters (among polytheists and hypocrites), they say, ‘truly, we are with you, verily, we were but mocking.’ Allah will punish them for their mockery and give them increase in their wrongdoing to wander blindly.” (Quran 2:14-15)
The hypocrites in whose hearts is a disease are chronically fearful. Their disease is manifested in disloyalty to any legitimate cause, lack of courage, low self-confidence, dislike of team-work, and closedmindedness. In our daily lives, we see a lot of people who approach us and flatter us because they need something from us. But after they leave, they cast aspersions on us and call us all sorts of names.
Abu Huraira narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “You will find people like minerals (some are more valuable than others). Those who were the best in the era before my advent (jahiliyya) will be the best after reverting to Islam if they learn about their religion properly. You will also find out that among the best people in Islam are those who used to be staunch enemies of Islam. You will also discover that the worst person is the one who is double-faced, who approaches some people with one face and approaches others with another.” (Reported by AlBukhari # 3,493 and Muslim # 2,526 and # 199)
Muhammad Bin Zaid narrated that some people admitted in front of his grandfather, Abdullah Bin Amru (one of Prophet Muhammad’s companions), that whenever they entered in the palaces of their kings and rulers they would praise them, but once they were out of their palaces, they would criticize and sometimes abuse them. Abdullah Bin Amru informed him that dissemblance and flattery were regarded as hypocrisy during the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).” (Reported by Imam AlBukhari # 7,178 and Ibn Maajah in his Saheeh # 3, 975)
Whoever wants to be successful on earth and ultimately gain felicity in the hereafter should be honest about his beliefs and opinions. If you meet a ruler or any person holding an influential position, don’t praise him insincerely, only to abuse and accuse him after you leave his presence. Unfortunately, some people cheaply and dishonestly flatter rulers in anticipation of employment, positions or some sort of benefit. Deceiving people in anticipation of getting some benefits from them is an indication of disbelief in Allah’s power and belief that humans can single-handedly confer benefits and avert evil, regardless of Allah’s will.
We should understand that everything is in the hands of Allah. True believers are not sycophants and opportunists, but have strong and confident personalities. They are virtuous and righteous regardless of what people think of and say about them. Hudhaifa (Prophet Muhammad’s companion and confidante) narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Do not be a minion, in that you would say, ‘If people do good deeds we will do like them and if they treat others unjustly we will do the same.’
But rather settle yourselves (on righteousness and virtue); when people do good deeds, do like them. But when they go astray, do not follow them. Likewise, avoid injustice and wrongdoing.” (Reported by Imam AtTirmidhi # 2,007). As we strive to our utmost to be sincere in Ramadan, avoiding dissemblance and all vices, we should try our best to quit hypocrisy and uphold these lessons until we die - with the help of Allah.