CHAPTER 4: HYPOCRITES – PART 5
The death of ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool:
After the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, returned from the battle of Tabook, ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool died. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, offered the funeral prayer, and shrouded him in his shirt (the Prophet’s) despite the great harm he continuously inflicted upon the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and the believers.
It was said that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave his shirt to shroud Ibn Salool as a return for him (Ibn Salool) giving the Prophet’s uncle Al-‘Abbas a shirt to wear after the battle of Badr when he (Al-‘Abbas) was taken as a war hostage by the Muslims. Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah (a Follower; belonging to the generation succeeding the Companions) said: “People believe that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave his shirt to ‘Abdullaah (Ibn Salool) to reward him for what he did with his uncle.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (1350).)
An-Nawawi (a scholar) said: “This narration reflects the sublime manners of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, knew the harm this hypocrite caused for the Muslims (and him personally), yet he shrouded him with his own shirt and prayed at his funeral and asked Allah to forgive him. Allah Says (what means): «And indeed, you are of a great moral character.» [Quran: 68:4]” (The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (167/15).)
An-Nawawi (a scholar) said: “This narration reflects the sublime manners of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, knew the harm this hypocrite caused for the Muslims (and him personally), yet he shrouded him with his own shirt and prayed at his funeral and asked Allah to forgive him. Allah Says (what means): «And indeed, you are of a great moral character.» [Quran: 68:4]” (The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (167/15).)
Some of these hypocrites repented and truly adhered to Islam:
One of those who repented was Al-Jullaas ibn Suwayd. Al-Jullaas was amongst the hypocrites and was one of those who refrained from going to the battle of Tabook. Not only that, he even discouraged others from going. ‘Umayr ibn Sa’eed, was raised by him as an orphan, and his mother was married to Al-Jullaas who supported him and was kind to him. One day ‘Umayr overheard Al-Jullaas saying: “I swear by Allah, if Muhammad was truthful (about his mission) then we are worse than donkeys.”
‘Umayr said to Al-Jullaas: “You are the most beloved person to me, and the best in your treatment of me, and I hate that anything would harm you. However, you said something, I swear by Allah, if I make it known to others, then it would disgrace you, and if I conceal it, then I would be ruined (by Allah), but the first consequence is easier for me than the other.”
‘Umayr went to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and told him what Al-Jullaas said. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, called upon Al-Jullaas and asked about what ‘Umayr said. However, Al-Jullaas swore by Allah that he did not say any such thing; he said: “’Umayr lied; I never said such a thing.”
‘Umayr said: “I swear by Allah that you did, so repent to Allah The Almighty. Had it not been that I feared that Allah would reveal Quran (about this incident) and make me equal to you (in status), then I would have never disclosed what you had said.”
Then, revelation came down upon the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, so people around him kept silent and none of them moved. This was always the case, whenever revelation was sent down upon the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, people would keep silent and not move.
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, raised his head and recited the verse (which means): «They swear by Allah that they did not say [anything against the Prophet] while they had said the word of disbelief and disbelieved after their [pretense of] Islam and planned that which they were not to attain [i.e. the murder of Prophet Muhammad]. And they were not resentful except [for the fact] that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them of His bounty [i.e. for no reason instead of being grateful].So if they repent, it is better for them; but if they turn away, Allah will punish them with a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And there will not be for them on earth any protector or helper.» [Quran: 9:74]
Al-Jullaas said: “Indeed I said it, and Allah is offering me repentance and I (accept the offer and) repent.” Thus, he admitted to his sin, and sincerely repented, and he did not stop any good he was doing to ‘Umayr. ‘Urwah said: “’Umayr continued to be honored after that until he died.” (Reported by Jareer At-Tabari (361/14) and ‘Abdur-Razzaaq in his book Al-Musannaf (18303) on the authority of ‘Urwah ibn Az-Zubayr. Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr said in his book Al-Istee’aab (79/1), “This is a famous story in the books of Tafseer.”)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used the method of exposing the traits of hypocrites and not names:
Some of the hypocrites were known to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, but the others, whose names were not known to him, did not mean that their characteristics were not known to him either. He knew them by means of their qualities and characteristics. Allah Says (what means): «And if We willed, We could show them to you, and you would know them by their mark; but you will surely know them by the tone of [their] speech. And Allah knows your deeds.» [Quran: 47:30]
Similarly, even though the Companions did not know all the hypocrites by name, yet they were known to them by means of their characteristics and conduct. ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood (a Companion) said: “I have seen the time (during our era) when no one stayed behind (i.e. did not attend the congregational prayer) except a hypocrite, whose hypocrisy was exposed.”(Reported by Muslim (654).)
This shows that the Companions knew hypocrites by their traits, stances and manner of speech. It shows great wisdom that such people are recognized by their traits, because it enables a believer to recognize them and take precautions in all places and during all times.
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to expose their traits so that people would be aware of them:
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mentioned different traits so that people would recognize hypocrites by them and so that they would avoid being described with these traits. The following are some such characteristics:
• Not attending the Fajr (dawn) and Ishaa’ (night) prayers:
Abu Hurayrah (a Companion) narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “No prayer is more burdensome to the hypocrites than the Fajr [dawn] prayer and the `Ishaa’ [night] prayer; and if they knew their merits, they would come to them even if they had to crawl to do so.’’(Reported by Al-Bukhari (657) and Muslim (651).)
• Lying, breaking promises, betrayal and vulgar during quarrels:
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “There are three signs of a hypocrite: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays his trust.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (33) Muslim (59).)
`Abdullaah ibn `Amr bin Al-`Aas narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “There are four qualities which, when found in a person, make him a sheer hypocrite, and one who possesses one of them, possesses one characteristic of hypocrisy until he abandons it. These are: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he acts treacherously; when he is entrusted with something, he betrays trust; and when he argues, he quarrels and utters foul language.’’(Reported by Al-Bukhari (2459) Muslim (58).)
• They are ignorant and undignified:
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “There are two qualities no hypocrite will possess: a dignified appearance and knowledge about religion.”(Reported by At-Tirmidhi (2684).)
• Fluctuation and dispraised blind imitation of others:
Ibn ‘Umar (a Companion) narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “A hypocrite is like a sheep that fluctuates between the two herds, going to this herd once and then going to the other.”(Reported by Muslim (2784).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, warned them against harming the believers:
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar (a Companion) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ascended the pulpit and called aloud saying: “O you who have believed with your tongues, but [real] faith has not found its way to your hearts, do not harm the believers, do not belittle or reprimand the believers and do not seek to expose their hidden mistakes. Whoever tries to search or expose the mistakes which are hidden and private of his fellow Muslim, Allah will expose his hidden mistakes, and whoever Allah does this to him, Allah would expose him even within the corner of his own home.””(Reported by At-Tirmidhi (2032).)
This means that Allah will expose him even if he was hiding in his own house; Allah Says (what means): «Indeed, those who like that immorality [unlawful sexual relations] should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows [the hidden aspects of all things: what is beneficial and what is harmful] and you do not know.» [Quran: 24:19]
An example of their harm to the believers is the following narration; Abu Mas’ud Al-Badri (a Companion) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, commanded us to spend in charity, and we were laborers who were hired to carry people’s belongings for a fee and would spend from our wages or spend all our wages. Abu ‘Aqeel spent half a Saa’ (a measure of weight equals approximately 3 kg), and another person donated slightly more than him. The hypocrites said: ‘Allah is not in need for the charity of this man, and the second person donated only to show off. At this, Allah revealed the following verse (which means): «Those who criticize the contributors among the believers concerning [their] charities and [criticize] the ones who find nothing [to spend] except their effort, so they ridicule them, Allah will ridicule them, and they will have a painful punishment» [Quran: 9:79]” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (4668) Muslim (1018).)
They (the hypocrites) criticized the believers who spent little money saying that Allah does not need their insignificant contribution and accused those who spent more of showing off. This is how hypocrites are; they always accuse the believers, cast doubts about them and question the intentions of anyone who does something good.
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would not assign any of them to any post:
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, dealt with the hypocrites just as he would deal with all other people with regard to the affairs of this worldly life. However, he never entrusted any of them with positions of authority or leadership. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, never assigned them to collect Zakah (obligatory alms), lead armies, to judge between people, lead people in prayer or any similar posts.
This is because they do not believe in Allah or His Messenger, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in addition to lacking the quality of honesty, which is one of the essential qualities one must have to be in charge of the affairs of the Muslims.
Hypocrites today are a greater threat:
Abu Waa’il (a Follower; belonging to the generation succeeding the Companions) said on the authority of Huthayfah ibn Al-Yamaan (a Companion) that he said: “The hypocrites today are more evil than during the time of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. At that time they used to say things secretly, while today they say them openly.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (7113).)
The Muslim nation was not afflicted with anything in the past or the present time is more dangerous than hypocrites and hypocrisy. Hypocrites are the greatest evil and they are a continuous trial for the Muslims because they are people from amongst us, who claim to be Muslims, and are part of this nation (i.e. physically).
Conclusion:
Hypocrisy is a dangerous moral deviation in the life of individuals, communities and nations and hypocrites have always been the cause of great evil. This danger is clearly noticeable when the destructive consequences of hypocrisy afflict the entire Muslim nation and reform movements in particular, as the hypocrite strives to destroy them from within, while he is safe and unwatched. No one expects his slyness and plotting
since he is considered a Muslim whose name, appearance and speech is like that of any other Muslim. Scrutinizing the essence of hypocrisy, you will find it a satanic combination that comprises severe cowardice, greed for the immediate pleasures of this worldly life, denial of truth and lying. Naturally, one can imagine the evil effects of such a combination. The linguistic meaning of hypocrisy implies deception, cunning, showing outward goodness and concealing evil.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, described hypocrisy in great detail to show how ugly and unbecoming all types of hypocrisy were. The description concentrates on the hypocrite’s tongue, because it is with his words that he tries to cheat people and get the better of them. He always says to those he speaks to what would please them, so that he is included in their good books. He does not care if what he says is untrue, because all that he cares for is his own interest. Since a hypocrite relies on lying, thinking that he could lie his way out of any difficulty, he is punished severely in the Hereafter.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, dealt with this section of the community during his time in a very balanced manner teaching his Companions that, in principle, people should be judged by their outward behavior, and that no one has the right to judge people’s inward faith. This was in order to protect the community from casting accusations on one another. On the other hand, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, hoped that this treatment would soften their hearts, and to give a chance to those who regretted and wanted to repent.
However, this did not stop him, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, from highlighting their characteristics and traits so that his Companions would be able to recognize them and thus be on their guard against them, and by which their identity would be exposed.
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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