What is the definition of a hypocrite in Islam
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What is the definition of a hypocrite in Islam?
And will all "Muslims" make it to Heaven?
The sections of this article are:
1- The definition of a hypocrite in Islam.
2- Will all "Muslims" make it to Heaven?
3- My detailed article about hypocrites in Islam.
4- Today's Muslim hypocrites.
The definition of a hypocrite in Islam:
A hypocrite in Islam is one who saw Islam; accepted its principles; embraced it; went along with it, but when his life style and preferences were challenged, Islam had failed with him. He knowingly wouldn't follow Islam because it would violate a certain life style that he adopted, ego, or standard that is too important to him, even though it directly violates Islam.
The difference between a hypocrite and a normal Muslim who sins, is that a hypocrite adopts an unacceptable life style and actions, and insists on following it, while a normal Muslim knows that he is wrong, tries to resist doing sins, but unfortunately sometimes, he still falls into sinning due to immaturity or physical weaknesses.
In a nut shell, this is what a hypocrite is in Islam. A hypocrite is a "Muslim". He is not an apostate (murtadd), nor is he a polytheist or idol worshiper (mushrik), nor is he an atheist (mulhid). A hypocrite does declare Islam as his religion, and in some cases even prays to GOD Almighty and fasts the month of Ramadan. Not everyone who Prays to Allah Almighty, however, is a good Muslim. Allah Almighty said:
"So woe to the worshipers Who are neglectful Of their Prayers, Those who (want but) To be seen (of men), But refuse (to supply) (Even) neighbourly needs. (The Noble Quran, 107:4-7)"
"The Hypocrites - they think they are over-reaching God, but He will over-reach them: When they stand up to prayer, they stand without earnestness, to be seen of men, but little do they hold God in remembrance; (The Noble Quran, 4:142)"
Those who are neglectful of their Prayers that are considered as hypocrites are ones who pray to only gain recognition by men, and refuse to do good. They do not connect spiritually with Allah Almighty when they pray 5 times every day, because the sole purpose of Praying in Islam is to Worship Allah Almighty alone throughout the day, and to constantly stay focused and purified from sins.
Hypocrites are obviously not purified nor cleansed from sins, even if they pray. That is why Allah Almighty cursed them, because they are spiritually "neglectful" of their Prayers.
Very Important Note: While Allah Almighty will still punish even the sincere Muslims who neglect their Prayers out of physical laziness, but these Muslims by far are never considered hypocrites. There is a difference between a hypocrite who wants to be seen by men and gain worldly recognition through his prayer, and one who is physically lazy, but yet, is still a very good and sincere Muslim who tries his/her best to please Allah Almighty in his actions and life style. Allah Almighty also said:
"The Hypocrites, men and women, (have an understanding) with each other: They enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and are close with their hands. They have forgotten God; so He hath forgotten them. Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse. (The Noble Quran, 9:67)"
So as we can see, the hypocrites enjoin evil and forbid what is just. Sincere Muslims, even if they don't Pray regularly (5 times everyday), don't fall into that category, because their daily actions and life style are far from enjoining evil and forbidding what is just.
Will all Muslims make it to Heaven?
So to answer the second question in the title of this article, no, not every "Muslim" will make it to Heaven. Allah Almighty's Standards are very tough. Heaven is not for everyone. Allah Almighty in the Noble Quran promised Hell Fire as the "destination" to both idol worshipers and polytheists (such as pagans and Trinitarians), and to the Muslim hypocrites:
"And that He may punish the Hypocrites, men and women, and the Polytheists men and women, who imagine an evil opinion of God. On them is a round of Evil: the Wrath of God is on them: He has cursed them and got Hell ready for them: and evil is it for a destination. (The Noble Quran, 48:6)"
In fact, the Muslim hypocrites will be in the most painful level of Hell. They are worse than the disbelievers themselves in the Eyes of Allah Almighty:
"The Hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire: no helper wilt thou find for them; (The Noble Quran, 4:145)"
My detailed article about hypocrites in Islam:
Please visit: www.answering-christianity.com/muslim_hypocrites.htm to see my detailed article about the Muslim hypocrites.
Today's Muslim hypocrites:
Since I lived all of my adulthood so far in the West, and had the chance to learn about the life style of the Arabs and Muslims who are living in the United States, I think I can safely declare that more than 95% of the Arabs and Muslims in the US are indeed hypocrites! They declare that they are "Muslims" with their mouths, but they have deserted Islam with their culture and ridiculous life style, and liberal beliefs.
Allah Almighty is currently cursing them. The Muslims in the West are known to be more and more materialistic. They demand too much money when it comes to marriage, and they love to show off. They are also very disrespectful and despising to Islam, too ridiculously open to a point where many of the Muslim women wear inappropriate and too revealing cloths, and carry very dangerous liberal beliefs that contradict Islam in every way.
They view Islam as something backward that must be fought, and they use the Taliban and other Muslim extremists as an excuse to their evil actions and life style that they adopted. The Talibans and the extremists from the Muslims who despise women and humanity in general, don't represent much of Islam, if they even represent Islam at all. But unfortunately today, if a Muslim doesn't have the "extremists" beliefs, then most likely in the West, he/she would be a hypocrite one; one who adopted the evil life style and liberal beliefs.
So while I personally strongly disagree with the Muslim extremists and their life style, but I must admit that they are far better than the majority of those who are not. It is very difficult to find moderate Muslims today, even in the Muslim countries themselves, because I see everyday on my Arabic Satellite TV how the Arabs are becoming more and more Westernized in the negative way. They are too materialistic, and social morality is endangered. It is common these days to see "boy friends and girl friends" in the Arab world. It is common to hear about illegal sex. It is common to see inappropriate cloths being worn by both men and women. Even tattoos and men growing their hair; even beyond the shoulder level, are becoming normal in the Arab and Muslim world today! It wouldn't even surprise me if homosexuality is on the rise over there!http://www.answering-christianity.com/definition_of_hypocrite.htm
2) When ignorance becomes widespread, sorcerers, soothsayers, devils and so on increase and cooperate with one another
From the excellent book (published by al-ibaanah) The Rules and Etiquettes of Ruqya, by Shaikh Saalih Aalush-Shaikh p.37-39 (you can buy at troid.ca )
“When Shaikh Abdullah Al-Qar’aawee1 came to our region, many people were suffering from illnesses; they were bed-ridden and couldn’t get up. And what was this due to? It was due to the Jinn and so on and so forth. They would go out and come across the Jinn at night in trees and upon the roads and so on, and the devils would take over them. This is because they were ignorant. They didn’t have any understanding of Tawheed.
So when he (i.e. Shaikh Al-Qar’aawee) came and spread Tawheed, not ruqyah or anything else, may Allah bless you, all of these things came to an end. All of these (possessions and illnesses) came to an end once Tawheed and knowledge spread. When Tawheed and knowledge spread, these things go away and come to an end. And when ignorance becomes widespread, sorcerers, soothsayers, devils and so on increase and cooperate with one another.
So I advised him to do as the good doers in the past did, which was to call to Tawheed and wage war against shirk and false superstitions such that the devils left them and they had no need for people to perform ruqyah on them from devils, sorcerers or anyone else….”
1Translator’s Note:Shaikh Abdullah Al-Qar’aawee was born in 1315H in Saudi Arabia where he played a great role in reviving the call to Islaam, particularly in its southern regions, making Saamitah the center of his efforts. He studied under such Scholars as Shaikh Muhammad bin Ibtaheem, the former muftee of Saudi Arabia, and produced students of his own such as Shaikh Haafidh Al-Hakamee. He passed away in 1389H, may Allah have mercy on him.
3) Never give up hope of Allah's Mercy
"Certainly no one despairs of Allah's Mercy, except the people who disbelieve."[Soorah Yoosuf 12:87]
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said,
"If a believer had full knowledge of the chastisement of Allah, none would covet His Jannah; and were an infidel to know the Mercy Allah has, none would despair of His Jannah".[Muslim]