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Sign One: Falsehood and Lying

Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) says: "Lying is a pillar from among the pillars of disbelief." He also says that whenever Allaah mentions hypocrisy in the Qur'aan, He mentions lying along with it and vice-versa. The One free from all imperfections, the Exalted has said:

"They think that they deceive Allaah and those who have accepted Faith, but they do not deceive except themselves and yet they do not perceive this. In their hearts is a disease so Allaah has increased them in this disease. For them is a tormenting punishment for their falsehood." [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 8-10]

"Allaah does witness that the hypocrites are indeed liars." [Soorah al-Munafiqoon (63): 1]

Whenever hypocrisy is mentioned, lack of the remembrance of Allaah is mentioned and when Faith is mentioned the remembrance of Allaah is mentioned along with it. Allaah says:

"They do not remember Allaah except little." [Soorah an-Nisa' (4): 142]

"O You who believe! Do not let your wealth or offspring divert you from the remembrance of Allaah." [Soorah al-Munafiqoon (63): 9]

Allaah has cleared the believers of hypocrisy due to their remembrance of Him and has described the hypocrites with their little remembrance of Him. The Messenger of Allaah said as is reported by both al-Bukhaaree and Muslim:

"The signs of a hypocrite are three ... "

Among them is mentioned that "... when he talks he lies."

Therefore, if he lies jokingly or seriously (in any matter) or in order to accomplish an objective or an end then there is within him a branch of hypocrisy. He does not lie except due to the hypocrisy in his heart and Allaah is the One from whom all aid is sought.

Lying is a clear sign which testifies to the hypocrisy of the one who does it. Likewise for the one who lies in jest as some people are careless in that.

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Woe be to him, woe be to him, woe be to him, he who utters a lie to make people laugh." [Reported by Ahmad in Musnad and declared hasan by al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Jaami']

Lying is cursed whether it is done seriously or jokingly. So one must be cautious against this blameworthy habit since the foundation of hypocrisy, its greatest pillar, its leader, its momentum and its support is lying. The hypocrites did not exhibit hypocrisy except due to falsehood in their hearts and that begins as a small speck in the heart, then deepens and enlarges, until it becomes a fortress from among the fortresses of hypocrisy - refuge is only with Allaah! Therefore, I warn myself and you, for the sake of Allaah, from lying. Beware of lying as it is due to hypocrisy and Allaah has described the hypocrites with lying.

Sign Two: Treachery

Evidence for this is his sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam saying: "... and when he makes a covenant with somebody he acts treacherously (or is disloyal)." [Reported by al-Bukhaaree from 'Abdullaah bin 'Amr al-'Aas]

So whoever gives his right hand to the Muslims, the leader or any Muslim and makes a covenant with him, or to a disbeliever in war (i.e. treaty) and then acts treacherously (or is disloyal to his covenant) then he has testified against himself with hypocrisy. This is shown from the hadeeth of Buraidah in Saheeh Muslim, the day when he sallallaahu ' alayhi wa sallam appointed an ameer and said to him:

"When the people of the fort ask you that they should be allowed to give up and (be judged) in accordance with the judgement of Allaah, the appease them upon your judgement for verily, your guarding / protecting your covenants is easier than guarding/protecting the covenant of Allaah."

Whoever gives his trust to a man, his wife, his son, his companion, his friend or the leader, then deceives and acts treacherously without legal justification from the Sharee'ah, then clearly, this is a sign and a pillar from the pillars of hypocrisy and refuge is only with Allaah.

Sign 3: Showing Insolence and Licentiousness in Argumentation

This is due to the prophet's sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam saying reported by both al-Bukhaaree and Muslim: "...and when he argues he behaves insolently."

The People of Knowledge have said: whoever argues with a Muslim (and I say a Muslim because argumentation with disbelievers is in a different category which they have separated from argumentation with a Muslim) and behaves immodestly in his argumentation then he has called Allaah to witness as to what is in his heart: that he is an insolent hypocrite.

As for the disbeliever, then there is a hadith: "War is deception." [Reported by al-Bukhaaree] Ali radiAllaahu 'anhu acted upon it and it has another separate explanation. When deception of the disbelievers is required and jesting with them and making ruses and stratagems against them is appropriate then there is no treachery in that, but rather it comes under the category of deception and strategy and there is no evil in it. 

Sign Four: Breaking One's Promise

Whoever makes a promise to his brother and then breaks his promise has inherited a branch from among, the branches of hypocrisy. It is reported about the Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam in his seerah with acceptable chains of narration, that he made a promise to a man that he would meet him. So the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam came to the meeting place at the appointed time, but the man broke his promise and he remained in that place for three days and nights.

Then the man remembered and came, so the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said to him: You have troubled me (i.e. caused me inconvenience).

Therefore, one who breaks his promise without having been kept back or restrained then that is a clear sign of hypocrisy. This occurs due to the lack of discipline in the promises made between the Muslims. Whoever promises to meet you at a certain hour, day or place then fails you in your promise then know that he possesses a branch of hypocrisy to wash your hands of him (his acquaintance). 

One of the righteous used to say when making a promise to his brother: "If Allaah wills and there is no promise between me and you, if I am able then I will be present and if I am not able then pardon me." This, in order that a branch of hypocrisy does not penetrate into him and that it is not written for him that he possesses a branch of hypocrisy. 

Refuge is only with Allaah! This is the hypocrisy in action which is abundant due to the lack of faith in some Muslims. They wake up breaking promises, lying, behaving insolently (with people) and acting treacherously. When a traveller goes to the lands of disbelief and sees their self-centered discipline due to materialistic goals and their discipline in making promises he says: "How strange! I found sincerity, truthfulness and trustworthiness there." So he returns extolling the enemies of Allaah and the followers of every atheist, apostate and coward whilst cursing the Muslims. So we say to him: 'You found over there a people trading with the dirham and the deenar (money), worshipping the profit and you have found people here who have no Faith and who have opposed the laws of Allaah, thereby making the image, this Religion repugnant and repulsive in the eyes of the Muslims." 

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