Page 36 - The Hypocrite According to the Qur'an

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T THEY AIM TO DECEIVE
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T THE BELIEVERS
A s mentioned earlier, what distinguishes hyp-
A
ocrites from other disbelievers is that they pres-
ent themselves as being believers. For the sake
of achieving some gain, they wish to be among the believers,
thinking it “profitable” to be amongst them.
Through every situation, a hypocrite pretends to live by
the principles of Islam, in order to prove himself to believers.
He performs his acts of worship for show. Yet, such worship
will not be acceptable in Allah’s sight, for in order for an act to
be considered worship, it must be performed for Allah’s good
pleasure alone. Hypocrites, on the other hand, seek other peo-
ple’s approval rather than Allah’s good pleasure. In their
prayers, charity, oaths or speech, they aim to win other peo-
ple’s esteem, to reap some benefit and to prove themselves to
others. However, sincere Muslims do not harbor such con-
cerns, but live only to earn His good pleasure. For, they are
aware that there is nothing hidden from Allah’s sight, and that
one will be faced with every deed he had engaged in, in His
sight, even if he had forgotten it.
We can consider the characteristics of hypocrites under
the following headings:

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