Page 66 - Quick Grasp of Faith 2

"hypocrites" (munafiqun), meaning those who bring dissen-
sion and corruption (nifaq).
Another significant attribute of the hypocrites is that
their real character only shows itself when the believers are
facing difficulties, but at no other time do they reveal them-
selves. These people, who think that they are deceiving the
believers are, in fact, themselves deceived. In the verse
below Allah mentions the mistake that the hypocrites make:
Among the people there are some who say, "We be-
lieve in Allah and the Last Day", when they are not
believers. They think they deceive Allah and those
who believe. They deceive no one but themselves
but they are not aware of it. There is a sickness in
their hearts and Allah has increased their sickness.
They will have a painful punishment on account of
their denial. (Surat al-Baqara: 8-10)
Allah has promised them the most painful punishment
since they have demonstrated how vile they are. Out of ar-
rogance and for the sake of some worldly benefit, they re-
jected faith after accepting it, even though full knowledge
about religion and the Hereafter had been conveyed to them
and even though they knew the messenger and lived to-
gether with believers. Their punishment is also because they
attempted to cause dissension, were hostile to the messenger
and to the believers, and provoked the unbelievers into act-
ing against the believers:
The hypocrites are in the lowest level of the Fire.
You will not find anyone to help them. (Surat an-
Nisa': 145)

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