NIFAQ-HYPOCRISY

The word Munafiq comes from the word NAFAQ  نفق meaning a hole or a tunnel that has two faces. One should have noticed outside of each tunnel in Makkah Al Mukarrama written in big letters  NAFAQ so and so.  Munafiq is someone like the tunnel, with a double face. Someone with double intentions.  They have a face with the believers and another face with non-believers. They are not loyal to Islam as one may think so.  They believed, then they rejected Faith or turned disloyal to Islam for few worldly benefits. They are like a smartphone in flight mode. Everything looks the same, except they have no connectivity. Their connectivity with Allah is lost, someone whose hearts are sealed off.

Being disloyal

Think of a married couple who love one another. There is a loyalty and there is a sincerity in their love.  Let's suppose sometime later the husband or wife turned disloyal.  Then signs of disloyalty start to get exposed through their actions.   Now he or she will be hiding something in their hearts and lie in their talks, will start breaking their promises and they betray their previous trusts. Once either of the couple figures out the characteristic of betrayal, the most loved person turns out to be the most hated. Their story ends in nothing but Talaq.

The same applies to any mutual relations. Either be a company or a nation. No one likes a hypocrite who betrays. In any country, the most severe capital punishment is given to the one who turns disloyal. Being a spy or traitor ends in a death sentence. So are the Munafiqoon. They are disloyal to Islam and face more dangers to Islam and Muslims and Allah promises them most severe punishment.

Beloved Prophet (s.a.w) says in a Hadith.

Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (RA) says that Rasulullah (SAW) said: “Four traits whoever possesses them is a hypocrite and whoever possesses some of them has an element of hypocrisy until he leaves it: the one who when he speaks he lies, when he promises he breaks his promise, when he disputes he transgresses and when he makes an agreement he violates it.” (Muslim and Bukhari)

Nifaq is a disease.

Nifaq is a disease of the heart and Allah Azzawajal warns believers about this disease as a deadly disease.

فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ۬ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضً۬ا‌ۖ

In their hearts is a disease, and Allah has increased their disease.

Take the example of a deadly virus as Nipah, Ebola etc. Which are deadly virus about which very severe warnings are given by WHO.  The symptoms of Nipah were published and announced to everyone.

Like fever and headache,

Muscle aches

a sore throat,

vomiting,

dizziness

Due to the warnings given, the healthy ones took cautious of their health. The precautions and warnings provided by the authorities were strictly followed. 

This is the same case with Nifaq. It is a deadly disease which has major symptoms and minor symptoms.  Just as it’s only a healthy body that is afraid of a deadly virus, only a believer is afraid of Nifaq.  Being afraid of Nifaq is a sign that Eemaan exists.  As Hasan al Basri (rah) said.

مَا خَافَهُ إِلا مُؤْمِنٌ، وَلا أَمِنَهُ إِلا مُنَافِقٌ.

No One is worried about it (Nifaq) except a believer. And no one is safe of it except a Munafiq.

In the case of the virus, even those who got a normal fever and vomiting started to worry if that was Nipah as they don’t want to be the victim of it and they don’t want to take the risk. They were very cautious. Likewise we will see the Most Afraid of Nifaq were those who had the most Eemaan (Most healthy). Sayyiduna Abubakar (r.a) feared himself of Nifaq. Hazrath Umar (r.a) would ask Huzaifa (r.a) if he was in the list of Munafiqoon given to him by Rasulullah (s.a.w). Even small symptoms which they thought seemed like of the Nifaq, they were worried. As in the story of Handhala (r.a)

One of the Tabiyeen, Ibn Abi Mulaykah (rah) said: I met thirty of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), all of whom feared being hypocrites, and none of them ever said that he had faith equivalent to that of Jibreel and Mikaa’eel (peace be upon them).

Those confirmed with Nipah virus were requested to treat differently even their dead body was buried from a distance. Their Janaza was not prayed inside a Masjid.  The clear list of Munafiqoon was reported to Rasulullah (s.a.w) through Wahy and Allah Azzawajal warned not to Perform for them Janaza prayer nor stand their grave.

 وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍ۬ مِّنۡہُم مَّاتَ أَبَدً۬ا وَلَا تَقُمۡ عَلَىٰ قَبۡرِهِ

 And never (O Muhammad SAW) pray (funeral prayer) for any of them (hypocrites) who dies, nor stand at his grave.

Ulama has counted numerous signs based on Quran and Hadith.  But there is none to declare anyone as Munafiq now. One can only understand them through their signs. The one who fears Nifaq in him has the quality of a believer. In fact, this is one of his greatest concern.  The one who judges others of Nifaq should fear his own Eemaan. Claiming of one having Eemaan itself was the quality of Munafiq. Believers don’t claim, rather they fear.

وَإِذَا لَقُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا

And when they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe,

  

Forgiveness is for all

Allah Azzawajal is Merciful. With all the severe punishments mentioned for Munafiq in this life and hereafter. The Doors of Tawba is open for all.

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرۡكِ ٱلۡأَسۡفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمۡ نَصِيرًا (١٤٥) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصۡلَحُواْ وَٱعۡتَصَمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَأَخۡلَصُواْ دِينَهُمۡ لِلَّهِ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ مَعَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ‌ۖ وَسَوۡفَ يُؤۡتِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمً۬ا (١٤٦) مَّا يَفۡعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابِڪُمۡ إِن شَكَرۡتُمۡ وَءَامَنتُمۡ‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ شَاڪِرًا عَلِيمً۬ا

Verily, the hyprocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them.[] (145) Except those who repent (from hypocrisy), do righteous good deeds, hold fast to Allâh, and purify their religion for Allâh (by worshipping none but Allâh, and do good for Allâh’s sake only, not to show off), then they will be with the believers. And Allâh will grant the believers a great reward. (146) Why should Allâh punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allâh is Ever All¬Appreciative (of good), All¬Knowing.  (Surah Al-Nisa: Ayah No, 145, 146,147)

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