Hypocrisy is so grave a crime that its punishment is eternal Hell. A hypocrite (munafiq) is revealed through a few simple habits, and the Quran has long described the particular traits of hypocrisy. So what are the easy ways to recognise a hypocrite?

In the mirror of the Quran a hypocrite is easy to recognise. Allah describes their ways: "When they meet those who believe, they say, 'We believe.' But when they are alone with their devils (the disbelievers), they say, 'We are with you; we were only mocking.'" (Surah Baqarah: 14)

Hypocrites pray in a hurry. When prayer is empty of the fear of Allah and humility, it is very hard to perform it calmly. Allah says: "The hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. When they stand for prayer they stand lazily, only to be seen by people, and they remember Allah but little." (Surah Nisa: 142)

On the basis of this verse the Prophet (PBUH) said: "That is the prayer of the hypocrite, that is the prayer of the hypocrite, that is the prayer of the hypocrite. He sits waiting for the sun until, when it is between the two horns of Satan (close to setting), he gets up (in a hurry) and pecks four times." (Muslim, Muwatta Malik)

Abdullah ibn Amr narrates that the Prophet said that whoever has four habits is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of them has one trait of hypocrisy until he gives it up. The four habits:

• When trusted, he betrays the trust.
• When he speaks, he lies.
• When he makes a promise, he breaks it.
• When he quarrels, he crosses every (moral) limit. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Prayer is the most important pillar and obligation of Islam, yet they showed neglect and laziness in it too, because their hearts were empty of faith, fear of Allah and sincerity. They find the Isha and Fajr prayers especially heavy. A hadith says: "The heaviest prayers for the hypocrites are the Isha prayer and the Fajr prayer." (Bukhari and Muslim)

In every age the hypocrite has been two-faced. When they saw the followers of Islam win, they said, "Were we not with you?" And when the disbelievers had even the slightest success, they said the same to them. Allah describes this in the Quran: "Those who wait (for misfortune) to befall you: if a victory comes to you from Allah, they say, 'Were we not with you?' And if the disbelievers have a share, they say, 'Did we not gain the upper hand over you and protect you from the believers?' Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection, and Allah will never give the disbelievers a way over the believers." (Surah Nisa: 141)

"(The hypocrites are) wavering between this and that, belonging neither to these nor to those. And whomever Allah leaves astray, you will never find a way for him." (Surah Nisa: 143)

Tafsir al-Tabari says the hypocrite wants neither to call himself a polytheist nor to be a believer. That is why the Prophet gave this parable: "The hypocrite is like a she-goat wandering between two he-goats, going (driven by desire) now to one and now to the other." (Muslim)

The hypocrites are cursed and defiantly disobedient. Hypocrite men and women are certainly people of Hell, and Allah has clearly fixed their place there; the Lord has declared that they will stay in Hell for ever. Several verses about them appear in Surah Tawbah and elsewhere:

• They are disobedient: "The hypocrite men and women are all alike. They enjoin what is wrong, forbid what is right and close their hands (from spending in Allah's way). They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them. The hypocrites are indeed the defiantly disobedient." (Surah Tawbah: 67)
• They are deceivers who try to deceive even Allah: "The hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. When they stand for prayer they stand lazily, only to be seen by people, and they remember Allah but little." (Surah Nisa: 142)
• They will be in Hell for ever: "Allah has promised the hypocrite men, the hypocrite women and the disbelievers the fire of Hell, to abide in it for ever. It is enough for them. Allah has cursed them, and theirs is a lasting punishment." (Surah Tawbah: 68)
• The command to be firm with them: "O Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh with them. Their abode is Hell, and what an evil destination." (Surah Tawbah: 73)
• Their place in Hell: "The hypocrites will be in the lowest depth of the Fire, and you will never find for them a helper." (Surah Nisa: 145)

In several other verses too, Allah declares hypocrite men and women certain people of Hell and confirms that it will be their abode for ever.

Believers should therefore keep away from every trait of hypocrisy and stay clear of the harsh consequences declared in the Quran and Sunnah.

May Allah keep the Muslim ummah free of the character and traits of hypocrisy and save them from the severe punishment of Hell. Ameen.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.