Page 216 - The Profound Darkness of the Hypocrite

THE PROFOUND DARKNESS OF THE HYPOCRITE

lims. In the Qur'an, these insincere attitudes and speeches of hypocrites who lived
at the time of our Prophet (pbuh) are mentioned as examples, and one of them is as
follows:

What assailed you on the day the two armies met was by God's permission,

so that He would know the believers, and so that He would know the hyp-

ocrites. They were told, 'Come and fight in the Way of God or at least help

defend us.' They said, 'If we knew how to fight, we would certainly follow

you.' They were closer to disbelief that day than to faith, saying with their

mouths what was not in their hearts. And God knows best what they are

hiding. (Surah Al 'Imran, 166-167)

During our Prophet's (pbuh) time, hypocrites did not want to make efforts in

the way of Islam and they tried to avoid providing any help to Muslims. By putting

forward various pretexts that could sound reasonable from outside, they were con-

cealing their duplicitous position. When they were supposed to join war with the

Prophet (pbuh), hypocrites tried to use their sneaky methods once again. However,

they gave away their immorality, dishonesty and hypocritical character through

their 'distorted speeches'.

The hypocrites who tried to avoid going to war back then said, 'If we knew

how to fight, we would certainly follow you', when our Prophet (pbuh) called for

them to reinforce Muslims. By speaking these words, hypocrites tried to present

themselves as if they were 'incapable, incompetent people of no use and who did

know how to fight'. Yet, this was a total lie; they just did not want to serve Islam.

If it had been the unbelievers who made the request, hypocrites would have re-

sponded their call enthusiastically and joyfully performed the tasks of highest risk.

On the other hand, when they were required to contribute for Muslims, they were

trying to give an impression of themselves as if they were the most incompetent

and unskilled people in the world.

Hypocrites living at the time of our Prophet (pbuh) put forward many other

excuses to avoid going into a war. In order to be left behind, some pretended as if

they did not know how to ride a horse, they were not strong enough to lift a

sword, or they were physically not available to go on a fight. However, in the

Holy Qur'an, God reveals that such excuses of hypocrites were 'lies' and thus He

overturns 'this evil plan of hypocrites put on scene for being left behind at time

of war'. This is how God warns all Muslims who will come to live through every

era about this sneaky strategy of hypocrites.

Indeed, one of the most important signs of today's hypocrites is again 'their at-
tempt to be left behind with all kinds of excuses in order not to support the in-
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