Similitude of a Hypocrite: that of a man who kindled a fire

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَبِٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ

يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَمَا يَخۡدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ۬ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمُۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡذِبُونَ

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ لَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ مُصۡلِحُونَ

أَلَآ إِنَّهُمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدُونَ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا يَشۡعُرُونَ

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ ءَامِنُواْ كَمَآ ءَامَنَ ٱلنَّاسُ قَالُوٓاْ أَنُؤۡمِنُ كَمَآ ءَامَنَ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ‌ۗ

أَلَآ إِنَّهُمۡ هُمُ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا يَعۡلَمُونَ

وَإِذَا لَقُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ شَيَـٰطِينِهِمۡ

قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا مَعَكُمۡ إِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ مُسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ

ٱللَّهُ يَسۡتَہۡزِئُ بِہِمۡ وَيَمُدُّهُمۡ فِى طُغۡيَـٰنِهِمۡ يَعۡمَهُونَ

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشۡتَرَوُاْ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَـٰرَتُهُمۡ

وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهۡتَدِينَ

مَثَلُهُمۡ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسۡتَوۡقَدَ نَارً۬ا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتۡ مَا حَوۡلَهُ ۥ

ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمۡ وَتَرَكَهُمۡ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ۬ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ

صُمُّۢ بُكۡمٌ عُمۡىٌ۬ فَهُمۡ لَا يَرۡجِعُونَ

أَوۡ كَصَيِّبٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَـٰتٌ۬ وَرَعۡدٌ۬ وَبَرۡقٌ۬

يَجۡعَلُونَ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمۡ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِہِم مِّنَ ٱلصَّوَٲعِقِ حَذَرَ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ‌ۚ

وَٱللَّهُ مُحِيطُۢ بِٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ

يَكَادُ ٱلۡبَرۡقُ يَخۡطَفُ أَبۡصَـٰرَهُمۡ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوۡاْ فِيهِ

وَإِذَآ أَظۡلَمَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ قَامُواْ‌ۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمۡعِهِمۡ

وَأَبۡصَـٰرِهِمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬

Of the people there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" but they do not (really) believe.

Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only
deceive themselves, and realize (it) not!

In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease and grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves).

When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth", they say: "Why, we only want to make peace!"

Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realize (it) not.

When it is said to them: "Believe as the others believe" they say: "Shall we believe as the fools believe?" Nay, of a surety they are the fools, buy they do not know.

When they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe" but when they are alone with their evil ones they say: "We are really with you; we (were) only jesting.

Allah will throw back their mockery on them and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones (to and fro).

These are they who have bartered guidance for error: but their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction.

Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness so they could not see.

Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).

Or (another similitude) is that of a rain-laden cloud from the sky; in it are zones of darkness, and thunder and lightning they press their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunder-clap, the while they are in terror of death. But Allah is ever round the rejecters of Faith! The lightning all but snatches away their sight; every time the light (helps) them, they walk therein and when the darkness grows on them, they stand still. And if Allah willed, He could take away their faculty of hearing and seeing; for Allah hath power over all things.

(Qur’an: Baqarah: 2: 8-20)

REFLECTION

Meaning of 'Nifaaq' (hypocrisy)

'Nifaaq' means to show conformity - or agreement - and to conceal evil.
Nifaaq has several types:
Nifaq in the creed that causes its people to reside in Hell for eternity, and
Nifaq in deed, which is one of the major sins.
Ibn Jurayj said of the hypocrite that, "His actual deeds are different from what he publicizes, what he conceals is different from what he utters, his entrance and presence are not the same as his exit and absence.''

Allah s.w.t. singled out this ‘Nifaaq’ as a type of ‘unbelief’ (Allah likens it as a disease) which may afflict Muslims. Outwardly, for all intents and purpose, a person is identified and regards himself as a Muslim, yet he is afflicted by a dangerous spiritual malady termed as ‘nifaaq’ (hypocrisy) – an attitude of unbelief; harbouring hatefulness of Islam and towards everything which it teaches, even mocking the true believers. They would undermine the teaching of Islam by instigating or planting doubts in Muslims, favouring un-Islamic ways rather than obeying the teachings of Islam – the Islam established and perfected by Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

This group has been causing much confusion today, especially when some of them clamour for ‘change’ in the manner of how Islam should be – where they unashamedly suggests that Muslim embrace liberalism, secularism, nationalism and various other “ism” which they fancy through their modern education. They seemed overawed by the ways of the unbelievers and in-fact preferred these over that of Islam (perhaps, being ignorant or unaware of what Islam has to offer). Being influenced by non-Muslim academician (orientalists) they echo the call towards ‘reformation’ (aping that, which had happened to Christianity) and offer various types of Islam ‘manufactured’ in the Universities and in the so-called Islamic Research Centres that proliferate in the West. One tell-tale sign is their ‘pathological’ hatred towards Muslim adhering to any Islamic tradition, labelling them all as outdated and archaic. Granted there may be Muslims who abuse the religion for their own ends, but we need to be careful not to spew hatred upon the religion rather than these abuses which is unIslamic. Failure of a Muslim to distinguish the difference between abuse and genuine teaching of Islam may breed hypocrisy in his heart. And because we still regard them as fellow Muslims, we have to tolerate them and yet their ilks continue to cause much irritation or even become the obstacles to many genuine Islamic programs being implemented. This group i.e. the hypocrites are condemned by Allah s.w.t. when He warns:

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرۡكِ ٱلۡأَسۡفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمۡ نَصِيرًا

The Hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Hell-Fire: no helper wilt thou find for them.― (Qur’an: an-Nisa: 4: 145)

Note from Tafsir Ibn Katsir: Allah begins to describe the hypocrites who show belief and hide disbelief. Since the matter of the hypocrites is vague and many people do not realize their true reality, Allah mentioned their description in detail. Each of the characteristics that Allah used to described them with is a type of hypocrisy itself. Allah revealed Surat Bara'ah (chapter 9) and Surat Al-Munafiqun (chapter 63) about the hypocrites. He also mentioned the hypocrites in Surat An-Nur (24) and other Surahs, so that their description would be known and their ways and errors could be avoided.

They entertain a delusion

Allah s.w.t. describes some of their attitudes, or more accurately, their delusion.

يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَمَا يَخۡدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ۬ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمُۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡذِبُونَ

“Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and realize (it) not! In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease and grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves).”

These hypocrites, they are usually arrogant in holding to their opinion about Islam. They may even consider themselves to be ‘smart’ in hiding their hypocrisy, trying to deceive Allah s.w.t. and the rest of the Muslims. Yet, they are in fact deceiving themselves.

Hypocrisy – a spiritual malady, a disease.

It is interesting when Allah s.w.t. regards hypocrisy as a disease, a disease that can be increased in terms of it affliction, which inevitably be spiritually fatal. For this teaches us that:

[a] Muslim must constantly strive to become Mu’meen (believers). This progression must be pursued through correct learning of Islam; removing every doubt, ambiguity and uncertainty with correct knowledge and proper learning (with Adab) from Islamic teachers including inculcation of noble disposition (akhlaq al-kareema).

[b] Those who neglect to progress in this, would harbour doubts and ambiguity about Islam, which may fester into cynicism. Compounded with their lack of Adab (entertaining conceit and arrogance) they would not admit that they do not as yet know; but yet they would rely on their ignorance of Islam as basis to judge Islam. Thus, the beginning of their hate is only because they do not know, but instead of humbly learning, they are too quick to judge.

[c] Their cure is through proper learning of Islam (traditional Islamic education – ta’dibiyyah) and to work upon building of Faith (iiman) rather than aggravating their self-conceit through feeding their ego merely in intellectual discourses. Their method of learning, using the Western paradigm – had produced people who may be well-informed about Islam but who still harbour doubts and are inimical towards Islam. Surely, we must review how we are learning Islam. It is no coincidence today that many Muslims who show streaks of hypocrisy happens to be from those ‘well educated,’ seemingly well-read but without proper learning from Islamic teachers. How could they benefit learning from traditional teachers, when they usually have negative opinions of these Islamic scholars? They would rather prefer the professors and lecturers with Phd.’s even though many of these people are non-Muslims. Can the unbeliever inculcate belief in their hearts? Remember:

يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ الْكَـفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجْعَلُواْ للَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَاناً مُّبِيناً

“O you who believe! Do not take disbelievers as Awliya' (protectors or helpers or intimate friends) instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest proof against yourselves?”

(Qur’an: An-Nisa’: 4: 144).

Arrogance and creating mischief

Usually, such people when given the opportunity would take the administrative leadership, they would not hesitate to innovate or offer their own interpretations on Islam without recourse to accepted Islamic principles and methodology. Some even would experiment with the most controversial approaches, imitating non-Muslims or echoing the Orientalists’ suggestion to reinterpret Islam. When cautioned that their ways may create mischief e.g. opening floodgate of dissent, they will insist that they only meant well:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ لَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ مُصۡلِحُونَ أَلَآ إِنَّهُمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدُونَ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا يَشۡعُرُونَ

“When it is said to them: ‘Make not mischief on the earth’, they say: ‘Why, we only want to make peace!’ Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realize (it) not.”

Indeed, their recklessness in introducing ‘novel’ approaches without conforming to Islamic principles and norms, totally disregarding the caution from ulama’, may have caused further confusion and incite rebelliousness in the general Muslims. In fact they are being presumptuous in assuming they are qualified to assume the authority to meddle in Islam’s affair. Are they, really? They just could not differentiate between administrative leadership and religious leadership. They may not even be aware of the Prophet’s warning s.a.w:

‏ ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏قالت
‏قال رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏من ‏ ‏أحدث ‏ ‏في
أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ‏ ‏رد

'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: “He who innovates things in these affairs of ours for which there is no valid (reason), his innovations are to be rejected.”

[Hadith reported by Muslim]

They regard believing Muslims who are not like them, as fools

When the malady takes hold in them, their arrogance and condescending attitude towards other Muslims would become apparent, especially when they and those with the same thinking form into group. They would become bold and further deluded to claim exclusivity for themselves and their group. When advised to follow or believe as the other believers, their lack of humility would cause them to regard those unlike them to be conservative, traditionalist, uneducated, or ignorant or even fools. Sometimes, they even go to the extent to condemn or criticise traditional Islamic scholars who were beyond their league – parroting their Orientalists ‘professors’ from whom they picked their so-called methodology, calling it ‘objective higher criticism’ or hermeneutics re-interpretation of works by classical Islamic scholars etc.

Some unashamedly consider themselves competent to introduce labels for what they purport as types of Islam e.g. like calling it as 'liberal Islam’, ‘progressive Islam’, ‘reformist’, ‘moderate’, ‘inclusivist’, ‘modern’ etc. which imply difference or opposed to those other whom they labelled as 'traditionalists’, ‘old-fashioned’, ‘absolutist’, ‘conservative’ etc. whom they hold to be less learned than them – nay, they regard as fools. But Allah s.w.t. knows that they are the fools, but their arrogance make them deluded. Just one consideration for them to ponder: Can true learning of Islam, especially inculcation of “iiman, ‘amal and ihsan”, be possible by learning or be tutored by non-Muslims? Who are the heirs of the Prophet s.a.w.?

Dazzling speech: led by arrogance

Whenever they are reminded to fear Allah s.w.t., and to comply with Islamic teachings, their reaction to it may be revealing. Thus, although a person may display eloquence and has produced outstanding research papers and other intellectual discourses, Allah s.w.t. warns us to be careful of such person when he reveals:

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعۡجِبُكَ قَوۡلُهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَيُشۡهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلۡبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلۡخِصَامِ وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ

سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيُفۡسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهۡلِكَ ٱلۡحَرۡثَ وَٱلنَّسۡلَ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَسَادَ وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ أَخَذَتۡهُ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ

بِٱلۡإِثۡمِ‌ۚ فَحَسۡبُهُ ۥ جَهَنَّمُ‌ۚ وَلَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمِهَادُ

“There is the type of man whose speech about this world's life may dazzle thee and he calls Allah to witness about what is in his heart; yet is he the most contentious of enemies. When he turns his back his aim everywhere is to spread mischief through the earth and destroy crops and cattle. But Allah loveth not mischief. When it is said to him "Fear Allah", he is led by arrogance to (more) crime. Enough for him is Hell;―an evil bed indeed (to lie on)!

(Qur’an: Baqarah: 2: 204-206)

Their behaviour and seeming compliance with similar belief as with the general Muslims may just be for show, whereas within their own circle – where their exclusive and elitist group culture prevails, they would display their true colour. They seem to nurture resentment towards Islam and the general Muslims, so whenever they meet in private they would assure each other that they were simply jesting or play acting in public. And Allah s.w.t. responds towards them with this:

ٱللَّهُ يَسۡتَہۡزِئُ بِہِمۡ وَيَمُدُّهُمۡ فِى طُغۡيَـٰنِهِمۡ يَعۡمَهُونَ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشۡتَرَوُاْ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَـٰرَتُهُمۡ وَمَا

كَانُواْ مُهۡتَدِينَ

“Allah will throw back their mockery on them and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones (to and fro). These are they who have bartered guidance for error: but their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction. “

O How foolish for them to reject the guidance of Islam, replacing it with error stemming from their ignorance compounded by arrogance. They indeed, have lost their way.

Similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire

مَثَلُهُمۡ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسۡتَوۡقَدَ نَارً۬ا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتۡ مَا حَوۡلَهُ ۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمۡ وَتَرَكَهُمۡ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ۬ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ صُمُّۢ

بُكۡمٌ عُمۡىٌ۬ فَهُمۡ لَا يَرۡجِعُونَ

“Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness so they could not see. Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).”

SubHaanAllaah! O How true this is of the plight of these hypocrites. Being accepted by other Muslims and living in their midst may occasionally assist them to get glimpses of light and illumination, yet because of their hypocrisy, that light is then taken away from them and they would be left in total darkness. To be unable to hear, to speak and blind surely is a dreadful condition – most apt description of hopelessness in being astray, with no possibility from ever returning to the path.

Another similitude: a frightened man in the rain; in zones of darkness, and thunder and lightning

أَوۡ كَصَيِّبٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَـٰتٌ۬ وَرَعۡدٌ۬ وَبَرۡقٌ۬ يَجۡعَلُونَ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمۡ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِہِم مِّنَ ٱلصَّوَٲعِقِ حَذَرَ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ

مُحِيطُۢ بِٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ يَكَادُ ٱلۡبَرۡقُ يَخۡطَفُ أَبۡصَـٰرَهُمۡ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوۡاْ فِيهِ وَإِذَآ أَظۡلَمَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ قَامُواْ‌ۚ

“Or (another similitude) is that of a rain-laden cloud from the sky; in it are zones of darkness, and thunder and lightning they press their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunder-clap, the while they are in terror of death. But Allah is ever round the rejecters of Faith!”

The lightning all but snatches away their sight; every time the light (helps) them, they walk therein and when the darkness grows on them, they stand still.”

SubHaanAllaah! Allah reveals the inner state of the hypocrites; they are indeed frightened by the teaching of Islam. Just like a person walking in total darkness during a thunderstorm. Whenever the lightning lights up, they are able to see and proceed to walking, and yet they are fearful of being struck by that lightning; and so afraid are they of the ensuing thunderclap that they press their ears as though to keep it out. Although frightened, yet they are dependent upon the occasional lightning that flashes to show them a glimpse of the darken pathway. It is no wonder that hypocrites dread anyone quoting the Qur’an and Sunnah, and any reference to the Hereafter especially warnings of punishment for unbelievers. For they know that Allah s.w.t. is aware of their hypocrisy, for Allah’s knowledge and power encompasses all.

WaAllaahu a’lam