What Is Hypocrisy in Islam?
Hypocrisy in Islam is not the same as the opposite of virtue. The difference is in how the person approaches and treats others. For example, if a person is having a bad day, he might express his feelings towards him with kindness, ensuring that he does not gossip about him. This is not considered hypocrisy, and it is a praiseworthy act.
Backbiting
According to the Islamic jurisprudence, backbiting is a sin. It is an act of back-talking, in which one mentions a believer behind his or her back. This can be accomplished through speech or writing and includes publishing a person’s voice or image.
Imam Al-Ghazali states that “mentioning with the tongue is a sin.” It is the act of defining a brother’s deficiency, such as the deed of backbiting. It is also called “exposing”, and is performed in various ways: by pointing, nodding, winking, writing, movement, and more. Backbiting is a serious sin that destroys society.
Those who backbite must repent and fear Allah. It is also wrong to mention the sins of others, especially those of the opposite sex. Those who backbite must return the object of their backbiting.
Discouraging gossip
It is essential to discourage gossip and hypocrisy in Islam, as they are both prohibited. Hypocrisy is the practice of claiming to follow the religion of Allah but actually practicing other practices that are contrary to his teachings. The hypocrite will pretend to be friendly and a good person in front of others, while doing the opposite when they are alone. In Islam, this kind of behavior is considered sin, and those who practice it will end up in the lowest part of hellfire.
One way to fight against gossip is to avoid making it public. In the Qur’an, Allah warns against spreading false rumours and gossip. This type of behavior can lead to a climate of fear and mistrust.
False pretender to virtue
In Islam, the term hypocrisy can mean either an act or practice. In Webster’s dictionary, hypocrisy means “a false assumption of virtue.” In the Qur’an, this term appears 31 times and has different forms. The Qur’an also has an Arabic term for hypocrisy called nifaq.
A servant of Allah should know that he cannot please everybody. If he tries to please one group, he will receive disapproval from another. He must understand that pleasing others does not help him in the hereafter and does not increase his sustenance. Moreover, pleasing others will not increase his status in Allah’s eyes. Moreover, he may end up as a sinner whose good deeds will be burnt into ashes.
Hypocrisy towards the tenets of faith
In the Islamic faith, hypocrisy toward the tenets of faith is considered blasphemy. Muslims who show hypocrisy towards their faith will be punished. The penalty for hypocrisy is disgrace.
A person who is hypocritical towards the tenets of faith is guilty of being a hypocrite both in belief and action. People who are hypocrites will die without faith, and they will spend eternity in Hell. But their punishment will be less than those who completely deny their faith.
Hypocrisy towards the tenems of faith in Islam may take many forms. It can be physical, monetary, or recommended. Hypocrisy towards the tenets of faith in Islam can be a result of performing acts of worship for people rather than Allah. A person’s motive for performing these acts is to obtain honor and fame in society.