Shaikh Ibn Baaz: Beware of hypocrites and hypocrisy

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله said:

* The hypocrites are the enemies of Allaah تعالى and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, for they are more evil than the Kuffaar. Allaah تعالى said:

{إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ}

{Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire} [Surah al-Nisaa’ (4): 145]

* The hypocrites affiliate themselves with the people of faith whereas internally they hide their hypocrisy.

Due to his humility and extreme fear of Allaah, `Umar رضي الله عنه feared hypocrisy for himself so he asked Hudhaifah bin al-Yamaan رضي الله عنهما ^[1] – the Companion of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: “Did the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم counted me among the hypocrites?” He replied: “No! And I will not praise anyone after you.”

Therefore this necessitates that one should be cautious of the hypocrites and hypocrisy and its people (i.e. those align with them); and that one should be mindful of Allaah تعالى, fearing Him and seeking His سبحانه (protection) and supplicating to Him that He تعالى keeps him firm upon His religion. One should also contemplate upon the Qur’aan and fear the paths of destruction caused through speech and actions.

الفوائد الجلية من دروس الشيخ ابن باز العلمية (ص 16)

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[1] Hudhaifah bin al-Yamaan رضي الله عنهما – the keeper of the secret of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Because of Hudhaifah’s ability to keep a secret, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم confided in him the names of the hypocrites. It was a weighty secret which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not disclose to any other of his companions. He gave Hudhaifah the task of watching the movements of the hypocrites, following their activities, and shielding the Muslims from the sinister danger they represented. It was a tremendous responsibility. The hypocrites - because they acted in secrecy and because they knew the developments and plans of the Muslims from within - presented a greater threat to the community than the outright hostility of the Kuffaar (disbelievers).

From this time onwards, Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه was called as: “The Keeper of the Secret of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم.” Throughout his life he remained faithful to his pledge not to disclose the names of the hypocrites. After the death of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, the Khaleefah often came to him to seek his advice concerning their movements and activities but he remained tight-lipped and cautious.

`Umar رضي الله عنه was only able to find out indirectly who the hypocrites were. If anyone among the Muslims died, `Umar رضي الله عنه would ask: “Has Hudhaifah attended his funeral prayer?” If the reply was 'yes', he would perform the prayer. If the reply was 'no', he became doubtful about the person and refrained from performing the funeral prayer for him.