Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy

1987 11 November 11 Hypocrisy (225) Deceitful behaviour towards God—By carrying out God’s commandments, but not for the sake of God; for the sake of something other than God. They shall be sternly punished for their hypocrisy.”

One particularly baneful aspect of hypocrisy—deceitful behaviour towards God—is severely castigated in the Quran:

‘There are some who say: “We believe in God and the Last Day,” but they are no true believers. They seek to deceive God and those who believe in Him: but they deceive none save themselves, though they may not perceive it. There is a sickness in their hearts which God has increased: they shall be sternly punished for their hypocrisy.’

This verse is *elaborated upon by the Prophet: “Do not try to deceive, for one who does so will find himself deceived by God; he is deceiving himself, if he only knew.” when asked how one deceived God, the Prophet replied, “By carrying out God’s commandments, but not for the sake of God; for the sake of something other than God.”

Those who put up a front of engaging in the work of Islam, while in actual fact pursuing fame, status and worldly gain, would do well to pause and give thought to what they really are, and to what they are really achieving. “…… they deceive none save themselves, though they may not perceive it.” They would do well also to pause and give thought to the fact that ‘they shall be sternly punished for their hypocrisy.”

* Narrated by Qurtubi in his commentary on the Quran