Page 86 - Satan: The Sworn Enemy of Mankind
P. 86

S SATAN'S FACTION:
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                             T THE HYPOCRITES
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                     he Arabic word munafiq refers to a person who is "two-
                     faced, always trying to find an easy way out of commit-
            T ments, either spiritual or social, by adapting to a course of
            action which will bring him or her an advantage." Although they are
            not believers, hypocrites are people who nevertheless strive to give
            the impression that they are, in order to take advantage of the be-
            lievers' strength and seek shelter among them.
                 When these people, who have a sickness in their hearts, fail to
            find what they had hoped, or when some conflict or difficulty af-
            flicts the believers, they depart immediately from them, only then
            showing what they had hidden in their hearts. Whether during or
            after their departure from the believers, they then strive to harm
            them and to impede the unity among them. Moreover, to this end,
            they will even cooperate with unbelievers.
                 The character and behavior of the hypocrites is described in
            some detail in several verses of the Qur'an, believers being warned

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