In Islam, sincerity and truthfulness hold immense importance. The very foundation of Imān rests upon harmony between the heart, the tongue, and actions. However, there are some people who outwardly claim Islam, yet faith does not reside in their hearts. Such people are called “Munāfiq” (hypocrites), and their double-faced behavior is termed “Nifāq” (hypocrisy).
Definition of Nifāq
Linguistically, Nifāq means “to hide within something” or “to deceive.”
In Islamic terminology, it refers to a person who outwardly claims to be a Muslim, while concealing disbelief and faithlessness within.
Allah Ta‘ālā says:
إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَـٰدِعُهُمْ ۖ
“Indeed, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He who deceives them.” (Al-Nisā’: 142)
Types of Nifāq
This type of hypocrisy expels a person from Islam. If one dies in such a state, his eternal abode will be Hell.
Examples of Nifāq al-I‘tiqādī (Hypocrisy of Belief)
- Harboring hatred for Islam in the heart while verbally claiming faith.
- Rejecting any verse of the Qur’ān or any statement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ which is proven by clear and authentic sources.
- Loving the enemies of Allah while harboring enmity towards Muslims.
- Mocking the religion or belittling the commands of Islam.
Allah Ta‘ālā says:
إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرْكِ ٱلْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ
“Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire.” (Al-Nisā’: 145)
Nifāq ‘Amalī (Practical Hypocrisy)
This form of hypocrisy does not expel a person from Islam, but it corrupts his deeds. If one does not repent, it can also prove disastrous in the Hereafter.
Examples of Nifāq ‘Amalī
- Speaking lies.
- Breaking promises.
- Breaching trust.
- Deceiving others.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلَاثٌ: إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا ائْتُمِنَ خَانَ
“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.” (Bukhārī: 33, Muslim: 59)
Signs of the Hypocrites
1. Deception
يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّا أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
“They [the hypocrites] seek to deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive only themselves, yet they do not perceive it.” (Al-Baqarah: 9)
2. Contradiction between tongue and heart
يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ
“They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts.” (Āl ‘Imrān: 167)
Breaking Promises
وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ عَاهَدَ اللَّهَ لَئِنْ آتَانَا مِن فَضْلِهِ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ (75) فَلَمَّا آتَاهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ بَخِلُوا بِهِ وَتَوَلَّوا وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ (76)
“And among them are those who made a covenant with Allah: ‘If He gives us of His bounty, we will surely give charity and will surely be among the righteous.’ But when He gave them of His bounty, they became stingy with it, turned away, and withdrew.” (Al-Tawbah: 75–76)
Trying to Harm the Believers
هُمُ الْعَدُوُّ فَاحْذَرْهُمْ
“They (the hypocrites) are the enemy, so beware of them.” (Al-Munāfiqūn: 4)
Wavering Between Disbelief and Faith
At times, they appear among the Muslims, and at times, they side with the disbelievers.
Allah Ta‘ālā says:
مُّذَبْذَبِينَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ لَا إِلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ وَلَا إِلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ ۚ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ سَبِيلًا
“They (the hypocrites) are swaying between this and that—belonging neither to these (the believers) nor to those (the disbelievers). And whoever Allah leaves astray, for him you will never find a way.” (Al-Nisā’: 143)
And in another place Allah says:
وَإِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا إِلَىٰ شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ (14) اللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ (15)
“And when they meet those who believe, they say, ‘We have believed.’ But when they are alone with their devils, they say, ‘Indeed, we are with you; we were only mocking.’ (14) Allah mocks them and prolongs them in their transgression, wandering blindly.” (Al-Baqarah: 14–15)
Laziness in Prayer and Showing Off
وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَى يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
“And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing off to the people, and they remember Allah but little.” (Al-Nisā’: 142)
They perform prayer reluctantly in front of people, only to conceal their disbelief so that it does not become apparent.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
أَرْبَعٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ كَانَ مُنَافِقًا خَالِصًا، وَمَنْ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنْ النِّفَاقِ حَتَّى يَدَعَهَا: إِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَانَ، وَإِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا عَاهَدَ غَدَرَ، وَإِذَا خَاصَمَ فَجَرَ.
“There are four traits; whoever possesses all of them is a pure hypocrite. And whoever has one of them has a trait of hypocrisy until he abandons it: when entrusted, he betrays; when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous; and when he disputes, he transgresses (indulging in foul speech and abuse).” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
آية المنافق ثلاث، إذا حدث كذب وإذا وعد أخلف، وإذا اؤتمن خان وفي رواية وإن صام وصلى وزعم أنه مسلم
“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when entrusted, he betrays. In another narration: even if he fasts, prays, and claims to be a Muslim.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān, Bāb Bayān Khaṣāl al-Munāfiq)
Harms of Hypocrisy
Severe punishment in the Hereafter
Allah Ta‘ālā says:
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّار
“Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire.” (Al-Nisā’: 145)
The nullification of good deeds
No good deed of a hypocrite is accepted, because his heart is void of sincerity.
Allah Ta‘ālā says:
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَن تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ
“And nothing prevents their charities from being accepted except that they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and they do not come to prayer except lazily, and they do not spend except unwillingly.” (Al-Tawbah: 54)
The Deeds of a Hypocrite Hold No Value with Allah
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَقْبَلُ مِنْ عَمَلٍ إِلَّا مَا كَانَ لَهُ خَالِصًا وَابْتُغِيَ بِهِ وَجْهُهُ
“Indeed, Allah accepts only those deeds which are done purely for Him and by which His pleasure is sought.” (Al-Nasā’ī, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi‘)
Distrust of the Hypocrites
Due to their double-faced policy, people cannot trust a hypocrite.
Allah Ta‘ālā says:
وَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ لَمِنكُمْ وَمَا هُم مِّنكُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَفْرَقُونَ (56) لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَأً أَوْ مَغَارَاتٍ أَوْ مُدَّخَلًا لَّوَلَّوْا إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ (57)
“And they swear by Allah that they are indeed of you, but they are not of you; rather, they are a people who fear you. If they could find a refuge, a cave, or a place to enter, they would turn to it in headlong flight.” (Al-Tawbah: 56–57)
Ways to Avoid Hypocrisy
1. Performing prayer with sincerity and humility
The hypocrites perform prayer reluctantly, but a believer should establish it with full devotion and sincerity.
2. Developing the habit of truthfulness
The Prophet ﷺ said:
عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ، فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ، وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ
“Adopt truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
3. Practicing trustworthiness and fulfilling promises
Allah Ta‘ālā says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ
“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, to judge with justice.” (Al-Nisā’: 58)
Indeed, Allah commands you to deliver trusts to those entitled to them, and when you judge between people, to judge with justice.
وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولًا
“And fulfill the covenant. Indeed, the covenant will be questioned about.” (Al-Isrā’: 34)
Accepting the Commands of Islam Wholeheartedly
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
“But no, by your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you, [O Prophet], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves, and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have decided, and submit with full submission.” (Al-Nisā’: 65)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَلَا إِلَى أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُمْ
“Allah does not look at your appearance or your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said:
لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَكُونَ هَوَاهُ تَبَعًا لِمَا جِئْتُ بِهِ
“None of you truly believes until his desires are in accordance with what I have brought.” (Sharḥ al-Sunnah by al-Baghawī: 103)
Hypocrisy is a most serious sin that destroys a person’s faith. Nifāq al-I‘tiqādī (hypocrisy of belief) leads directly to Hell, while even Nifāq ‘Amalī (practical hypocrisy), if allowed to grow, can endanger one’s faith.
Therefore, every Muslim must strive to practice the religion with sincerity and truthfulness, avoid all traits of hypocrisy, and constantly pray to Allah Ta‘ālā for steadfastness upon faith.
May Allah protect us all from every form of hypocrisy. Ameen.