Hadith #10630

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his purified progeny, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states, "النِّفَاقُ تَوْأَمُ الْكُفْرِ" which translates to

Hypocrisy is the twin of disbelief.

In this beautiful saying, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the close relationship between hypocrisy and disbelief, emphasizing their similarity and interconnectedness.

To understand the depth and significance of this Hadith, we turn to the Quran, the ultimate source of guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us about the dangers of hypocrisy in numerous verses. In Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah says, (Quran 2:8-9)

And of the people are some who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day,' but they are not believers. They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.

This verse sheds light on the essence of hypocrisy, which is the act of pretending to have faith while concealing disbelief. Hypocrites claim to believe in Allah and the Day of Judgment, but their actions and intentions contradict their words. They deceive not only Allah and the believers but also themselves, as they fail to recognize the consequences of their hypocrisy.

The Quran further describes the characteristics of hypocrites in Surah Al-Munafiqun, stating, (Quran 63:1-2)

When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muhammad], they say, 'We testify that you are the Messenger of Allah.' And Allah knows that you are His Messenger, and Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars. They have taken their oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allah. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.

These verses highlight the deceptive nature of hypocrisy. Hypocrites outwardly proclaim their belief in the Prophet (ﷺ) and Allah's message, but their true intentions are to mislead and divert people from the path of Allah. Their actions are rooted in evil, as they seek personal gain and worldly benefits rather than sincerely submitting to Allah's commandments.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) statement,

Hypocrisy is the twin of disbelief,

emphasizes the close resemblance between hypocrisy and disbelief. While disbelief is an outright rejection of faith, hypocrisy is a covert denial masked by false claims of belief. Both disbelief and hypocrisy share the common thread of rejecting the truth and opposing the guidance of Allah.

The consequences of hypocrisy are severe, as Allah warns in Surah Al-Baqarah, (Quran 4:145)

Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire - and never will you find for them a helper.

Hypocrites will face a painful punishment in the Hereafter, as their insincerity and deception will be exposed before Allah.

Reflecting on this Hadith, we are reminded of the importance of sincerity in our faith. It is not enough to merely profess belief; our actions, intentions, and hearts must align with our words. We must strive to purify ourselves from hypocrisy, seeking Allah's guidance and constantly examining our intentions.

As Muslims, we should take this Hadith as a reminder to be vigilant against hypocrisy in our own lives. We must strive to be true believers, embodying the qualities of sincerity, honesty, and integrity. Let us seek refuge in Allah from hypocrisy and constantly strive to strengthen our faith, for true faith is the antithesis of hypocrisy and the key to attaining Allah's pleasure and eternal salvation. May Allah guide us on the straight path and protect us from the twin evils of hypocrisy and disbelief.