Page 29 - Passivity in Religion

What the Passive Aim to Do Among the Muslims

On the other hand these people are prone to indulge in profane
talk. When they are alone, they talk openly against Muslims, the
prophets and Islam. They often criticize Muslims and claim that their
rights have been violated by them. They mock sincere Muslims and
that which they undertake. While pretending to praise their qualities,
they, in actuality, despise them and regard them as inferior. In this
way, though appearing to be speaking positively, they, in reality, are
harboring negative thoughts. A verse informs us of their mocking of
the giving of alms by the Muslims, and other efforts in the way of
Allah, as an example of this. Allah informs us about this base morality
of the hypocrites, and that those who will truly be subject to mockery
are hypocrites themselves:
As for the people who find fault with those believers who give
alms spontaneously, and with those who can find nothing to
give but their own effort, and deride them, Allah derides them.
They will have a painful punishment. (Surat at-Tawba, 79)
Throughout history, there have been people of this character
among the believers. Another case, wherein these people share secre-
tive opinions, though never daring to express their true inner-
thoughts, is with regard to the messengers. When they are with the
messengers, these people pretend to approve of their message. Yet, in
secret talks with their fellows, they speak against the messengers.
Those who embodied such wickedness were also around at the time
of our Prophet (saas), and held secret meetings against him, and
hatched plots against him and true believers. However, all such plots
were thwarted by Allah, and in compliance with our Lord's com-
mand, they will continue in failure into the future. This fact is related
in a verse as follows:
Conferring in secret is from Satan, to cause grief to those who
believe; but it cannot harm them at all, unless by Allah's per-
mission. So let the believers put their trust in Allah. (Surat al-
Mujadala, 10)

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