Page 203 - The Profound Darkness of the Hypocrite

A D N A N O K TA R ( H A R U N Y A H Y A )

Another verse in the Qur'an saying, "Do not be deceived by the fact that
those who are unbelievers move freely about the earth." (Surah Al 'Imran, 196)
underlines that hypocrites' efforts to 'travel around the world' gives them no gain
ever. Yet, hypocrites regard this as a great gain on their behalf. Since they feel great
admiration for what the unbelievers have, they imagine that the Muslims 'will also
admire and envy them just beause they have travelled around the world'.
Therefore, hypocrites use their 'spirit of being wannabes' that they use for in-
gratiating themselves to the unbelievers" also for "pretending to be superior" over
the Muslims. All they talk about are sentences like 'I have been to New York. I ate
a New York food at that famous cafe in that famous Street. Have you been there
and seen those?' By doing so, they supposedly emphasize that they do not like
Muslims and consider themselves superior over them. However; visiting some
places is not a material of superiority. Muslims can also travel around the world as
well as unbelievers. It is actually God Who makes people travel somewhere. Supe-
riority can only be true for someone in terms of his great love for God, his belief in
God, his devotion to the orders in the Qur'an. Hypocrites are really unwary as their
criterias are not the measures of the Qur'an, but the values of unbelievers.
Besides, it is of course nice to visit beautiful places in the world. Benefitting
from the blessings and beautifes of this world is something Muslims also love, like
and do when they have the time. However; Muslims never prefer to spend their
time travelling with no purpose if they ever have to choose 'whether they should
spend their time for their own entertainment or for working hard to end the
troubles and oppression in the world'. They always listen to their conscience and
make decisions in favor of helping those in need. Since hypocrites know this side of
Muslims, they want to emphasize that 'they are capable of doing something that
Muslims cannot spend time for' as they wish to influence the ones with poor faith

among Muslims and get them on their side. On the other hand, they think they are

showing off when they say to Muslims "I am travelling around the world whereas

you are not able to do so". They travel miles just to have their "photo" taken some-
where and thus to show off to the Muslims and their followers amongst the unbe-
lievers. They spend too much time to travel but never spare the same amount of

time to talk about the words of God, to read the Holy Qur'an and to spread the

message of God.

Early in history, the character of hypocrites came to light including all the
details. Hypocrites were again wandering around the towns and cities and trying to
show off to their supporters and Muslims, saying 'I have seen even the far-far-

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