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Characteristics of a Munafiq

Characteristics of a Munafiq (Hypocrite)
by Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah​

The Disease:
Hypocrisy is a deep rooted all encompassing spiritual disease. A persons heart could be overflowing with it yet be oblivious to it due to its hidden but subtle nature. We may frequently assume we are acting correctly but indeed be far off the mark and spreading corruption.

Prognosis:
Hypocrisy is of two types: Major and Minor.

Major characteristics lead to eternal punishment in the lowest depths of the Hell, examples of which are to outwardly display faith in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers and the Last Day, but inwardly one is devoid of such belief and disbelieves in it. He does not believe that Allah spoke to a Man among men who He appointed to be a Messenger; guiding them by His permission and warning them of His punishment.

“The hypocrites are in the lowest levels of Hell and you will not find anyone to help them”. [an-Nisa 4:145]

Symptoms:
Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr: The Prophet said, “Whoever has (the following) four characters will be a hypocrite, and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy until he gives it up. These are:

  1. Whenever he talks, he tells a lie;
  2. whenever he makes a promise, he breaks it;
  3. whenever he makes a covenant he proves treacherous;
  4. and whenever he quarrels, he behaves impudently in an evil insulting manner.” (Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)

The Quran & Sunnah relate many examples of those characteristics we should all be aware of and be looking to avoid at all costs. those things we need to realize in order to purify and save ourselves. those things we need to realize before it is too late:

30 Characteristics of the Hypocrite

  1. Falsehood & lying.
  2. Treachery.
  3. Insolence & Licentiousness in argumentation.
  4. Breaking a promise.
  5. Laziness in worship.
  6. Showing off.
  7. Lack of remembrance of Allah.
  8. Hastiness in prayer.
  9. Slandering the righteous.
  10. Mocking the Quran, the Sunnah & the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
  11. The protective oath.
  12. Disliking to spend in the way of Allah.
  13. Deserting & abandoning the Muslims.
  14. Starting false rumors & causing sedition.
  15. Finding fault with Allah’s decree.
  16. Bringing down the honor of the righteous.
  17. Remaining away from congregational prayer.
  18. Causing mischief while claiming to establish peace.
  19. Actions contradicting intentions.
  20. Fear of unpleasant events happening.
  21. False excuses.
  22. Commanding evil & preventing good.
  23. Miserliness.
  24. Forgetting Allah.
  25. Denying the promise of Allah & His Messenger.
  26. Concern for outward appearance not inner condition.
  27. Eloquence, long-winded speech & boasting.
  28. Fear of people not Allah when committing sins in private not public.
  29. Happiness at the affliction of believers with calamity.
  30. Sadness at the joy & pleasure of believers.