"I met 30 of the companions of the Prophet, all of whom used to fear hypocrisy for themselves"
If the companions of the Prophet feared hypocrisy, then how can we feel secure from it?
Hasan AlBasri said, "The hypocrite feels secure from hypocrisy, whereas the believer fears it"
The hypocrites give themselves excuses, beautify their own image to themselves, and exempt themselves from it.
One of the companions of Hasan AlBasri used to say, "O Allah I seek refuge in you from the humility and submissiveness of hypocrisy" He was asked what he meant by it. He said it is when the body is humble and submissive but the heart isn't.
النفاق grows in the heart through:
1) Lying
2) رياء
3) Weak insight/faith
4) Lack of Resolution/Laziness
If these four things exist in the person then it indicates that hypocrisy is established in his/her heart.
Their hearts are always diverted from doing good, and their bodies always put effort in doing worldly things. If they hear the truth their hearts are hard and don't accept it. When they hear falsehood they listen to it attentively. They may spend hours listening to it.
HADITH: "The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks he lies, when he promises he breaks his promise and when he is entrusted he betrays the trust." (Agreed upon)
We have to always present these characteristics to ourselves and check if we have these descriptions or fall into these actions.
Why does Allah tells us about them? In order for us to take a lesson and not be like them.
RULING: العبرة بعموم اللفظ لا بخصوص السبب
If Allah reveals verses regarding an incident that happened at the time of the Prophet, or a specific person, then it doesn't mean that the verse is particular to them and doesn't concern us.
E.g. Surah Mujadilah - The ruling taken from the incident of Khawlah رضي الله عنها applies to any case similar to them until the end of time.
We shouldn't exempt ourselves when we read the Qur'an. Allah revealed the book to be a legislation and guidance for the whole world.
Allah says in the Qur'an, "إن هو الا ذكر للعالمين"
It is a guidance for all mankind, and even Jinn.
Ask yourself if you are acting like that. Are you a hypocrite?
When they see "كافرين" most people say الحمد لله I'm not a disbeliever. But there are two types of disbelief, one is major and one is minor. Even we could fall into كفر النعمة. So never exempt yourself from the descriptions in the Qur'an, without asking yourself if you are falling into committing the same actions as the people.
There are pure hypocrites, pure believers, and people who are in between. Which one are you?
Whoever has one trait of hypocrisy and commits it persistently, is in danger of falling into major hypocrisy, if he doesn't cure himself of it.
The scholars said that persisting in minor sins will cause it to become major.
Ibn Taymiya said, "The student of knowledge is like the fighter in the cause of Allah. It doesn't fit the one who acquires knowledge to retreat"
جهاد isn't limited to the battlefield. When you leave your house for the sole intention of learning this means that you leave your house في سبيل الله. It is something very great in Allah's sight.
Retreating from the battlefield is one of the موبقات. It is one of the destructive major sins.
If Allah opens the gate of good for you, don't show laziness, give excuses or retreat. Whenever a verse talks about جهاد and you are a student of knowledge, think of yourself.
Ibn Uthaymeen said, "The warrior opens countries while the student of knowledge opens hearts"
In Verses 48-49:
"و هم كارهون"
The hypocrites are always planning against Islam and the Muslims until Allah disclosed the truth and made it manifest. The hypocrites would receive this with hate.
E.g. You are in a dispute with someone regarding a matter, and you both brought evidence and were trying to convince each other, until Allah made the truth manifest through your opponents side. When the truth comes in a way contrary to many people's desire they hate it.
"و منهم من يقولوا إئذن لي و لا تفتني"
He gave a very strange excuse to the Prophet. He asked to be exempted because he was afraid that he would commit adultery with the Roman women.
He wasn't truthful in his excuse, because Allah replied: الا في الفتنة سقطوا
He has already fallen into a worse فتنة, the فتنة of hypocrisy.
Lesson:
1) We have to be careful of lying to ourselves.
What does this mean? The person has an ill intention and covers it with a good intention. And he utters the good intention.
He constantly repeats this good intention.
E.g. A woman works, and every month her husband takes her salary. In order for this not to happen she donates her money to an Islamic center and says she wants Allah to reward her, etc. People believe her and accept her statement, but her main intention was so that if her husband asks her, she'll say she gave it in charity.
This isn't good because it is a good deed that may not be accepted by Allah. It's not based on truthfulness.
E.g2. Your friend asks you to donate for charity. You don't have or want to give, but you're embarrassed to say no, and you repeatedly tell yourself you're doing it for Allah.
These intentions come as soon as we initiate and action. What is your true intention? What motivated you to take that action? For whose sake are you doing it? What are you seeking? What do you hope by taking this action?
If you are confused between the two intentions, ask Allah to purify your intention, enlighten, and guide you, until Allah clears the matter for you and purifies your intention. Don't initiate any action until your intention is very clear in your heart.
Taking account of yourself is very very important.
The attitude of this man is similar to the attitude of the bedouins mentioned in (48:11-12):
"يقول بألسنتهم ما ليس في قلوبهم"
They say what is contrary to their hearts. This is due to their hypocrisy, weak faith in Allah, and bad thinking of Allah. -> "بل ظننتم ان لن ينقلب الرسول و المؤمنين الى أهليهم أبدا"
Allah told the Prophet to tell them, who has the power to avert the decree of Allah if He wills evil or good for you? You stay behind thinking you're safe and everyone else in danger, but how do you know that you may die and they will be safe? The power of this is not in our hands, it is in Allah's hand.
"بل كان الله بما تعملون خبيرا"
خبير = Allah knows the secrets of the hearts.
The hypocrites lie to themselves, they lie to the people, and they lie to Allah.
In سورة التوبه Allah mentioned that there are people whose excuses are genuine. If they were sick, old, or didn't have a mount, they were exempted from participating in جهاد. These are acceptable reasons with Allah.
2) In order to be truthful with yourself:
a) Don't ascribe purity to yourself. If you find yourself telling yourself that you're really doing it for the sake of Allah, etc. then pause. Dig deeper in your heart, find out the truth.
b) Don't set a good image for yourself.
c) Make dua. Ask Allah to purify your intention, and guide you.
The Salaf used to pause, rewew their intention, and then go ahead with the action.
3) Whenever Allah opens a gate of goodness for you through any person, take part in it as much as you can. Don't lag behind, or show laziness, thinking about all the things that could happen. This is the work of the Shaytan. Rely on Allah and Allah will make it easy for you,
4) If you have taken a step towards performing a good deed, don't retreat. When the hypocrites joined the Prophet in the Battle of Uhud, They withdrew in order to weaken the Muslim force.
The Characteristics of the Hypocrites from these verses:
- They hate the truth
- They lie to themselves
- There is no conformity between their speech and what's established in their hearts
- They turn the truth seeking فتنة
Remedy:
- Knowledge and fear of Allah
- Belief in the Judgement Day
- Taking account of oneself
Verses 50-53:
"إن تصبك حسنة تسؤهم"
Allah mentions the enmity of the hypocrites towards the Prophet and the religion.
حسنة is indefinite. If any good befalls the believers, whether it is worldly or religious, it grieves them.
E.g. If Allah grants someone a blessing, or guided a person to do something good, (e.g. Her children got good marks at school, she got a promotion at work, etc) the person with this characteristic of hypocrisy feels constricted and unhappy.
The true believer considers every success of any other Muslim as a success for the entire nation and community. This makes him rejoice.
E.g. If a person comes up with a good idea, you should feel happy for that person, not hatred, jealousy, envy, or wish that the blessing is removed, etc.
Usually when these hypocrites receive the news they are silent, but their hearts are upset. Then they may begin to defame the person and bring that persons defects into attention. They'll say things like, "Yes it was a good idea BUT......(she's like this and that, etc.)
What's in their heart begins to appear on their tongue.
" و إن تصبك مصيبة يقولوا قد أخدنا أمرنا من قبل و يتولوا و هم فرحون"
If you hear about the afflictions of the Muslims in the world, what they are suffering from should grieve you and cause you pain. Some people turn the other cheek, and some even say that they deserve it. Allah is testing your faith by showing you what's happening to the Muslims around the world. What will you say? What will you think? How do you feel? How many of us pray or give a part of our dua for the Muslims suffering around the world?
HADITH:
النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي تَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَرَاحُمِهِمْ وَتَعَاطُفِهِمْ مَثَلُ الْجَسَدِ إِذَا اشْتَكَى مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ تَدَاعَى لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بِالسَّهَرِ وَالْحُمَّى
An-Nu’man ibn Basheer reported: The Messenger of Allah said, “The example of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.” (Agreed upon)
Do the calamities that befall the Muslims cause you pain? Does their success cause you to rejoice? Then this indicates your belief.
HADITH: Ibn Az-Zubair reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say, “He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while the neighbor to his side goes hungry."
In another narration, "He didn't believe in me, the person who sleeps at night with a full stomach while his neighbor his hungry next door, and he knows"
HADITH: On the authority of Anas bin Malik, the Prophet said, "None of you will believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself." (Agreed upon)
The Prophet negated faith from these people.
Many Muslims were killed in the battle of Uhud. When calamity befalls the Muslims the hypocrites feel smart and say that they took that their precautions, stayed behind, the Muslims were killed and they were safe. These hypocrites don't understand that their death is martyrdom, and something great with Allah. They think they were smart for staying behind.
جهاد is a word that bears wide meanings. Acquiring knowledge is a kind of it, Making Da'wah is a kind of it, Dutifulness to your parents is also جهاد, striving hard against the Shaytan is a type of جهاد.
If people go out for Da'wah, and the person who does Da'wah will always receive harm from the people in one way or another. People who stay behind will say why are you troubling yourself, look at us we have peace of mind, and you are always getting hurt, etc. They don't understand.
"قل لن يصيبنا إلا ما كتب الله لنا هو مولانا و على الله فليتوكل المؤمنين"
This verse consists of a glad tidings for the believers. The statement "الا ما كتب الله لنا":
لنا = There is pure benefit and good in it.
What you see of killing, people dying, Muslims being 'defeated' is good for us. Allah never writes evil for us.
Why? Because Allah is our مولا. Allah will never disgrace and forsake His believing slaves. He will never let them down. The evil you see is nothing except good.
If Allah is the protector and guardian of the believer, then the life of that believer will undoubtedly be good. Never expect evil from Him.
After Allah informs us of this, What should you do? و على الله فليتوكل المؤمنين
Rely on Allah from beginning to end.
Repeat this verse constantly to yourself, whenever you experience something seemingly evil. If you are a true believer, know that there is nothing except good from Allah in that matter. Always think and expect good from Allah.
The Shaytan may whisper and say that you are always devoted to Allah and yet you're still going through distress and problems. He wants to dishearten you. But Allah will never let you down or leave you.
Ibn alQayyim, "The degree of Allah's being with you is in accordance to how much you love, are obedient to Allah, etc."
If you think of Allah in this way, Allah will be for as you think of Him.
Lesson:
1) The believer never becomes sad or grieves at calamities. Grief weakens one resolve and causes your strength to go away. Allah says in the Qur'an, "و لا تهنوا و لا تحزنوا و أنتم الاعلون ان كُنتُم مؤمنين"
We aren't talking about natural grief here, like when someone dies, etc. But always look at the positive side of calamities and problems. Be pleased with what Allah decreed for you, in order that Allah will be pleased with you. If Allah is pleased with you you will be rewarded and your life will be good.
*****
(16:97):
"من عمل صالحا من ذكر او أنثى و هو مؤمن فلنحيينه حياة طيبا و لنجزينهم أجرهم باحسن ما كانوا يعملون"
HADITH: Sa'd رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "The most in their suffering among the people are the prophets, then the best, then the (next) best. One is afflicted in accordance with his faith. If his faith is firm, his affliction is hard, and if his faith is weak, his affliction is light. Indeed, one would be so much subjected to adversity until he walks among the people without any sins.” (At-Tirmidhi)
How do we reconcile between the verse and the حديث? Ibn Uthaymeen said, "The good life doesn't mean a life free of sickness, troubles, and calamities. The good life is in the good heart, open chest, feeling at rest towards the Qadar of Allah."
If he experiences something good, he is grateful. If he experiences calamity, he is patient. He knows they are all from Allah, and Allah will not write except good. And so he is always at rest. This persons life is a good life. He may be sick and have trials, but his heart is at peace.
People think peace and rest is attained through worldly matters.
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