Page 67 - Quick Grasp of Faith 2

61. Are there any signs that characterise
hypocrites?

Allah has described various characteristics of the hypo-
crites in the Qur'an, and has warned the believers against
this group of disbelievers. For this reason, the features of
these vicious, furtive people are obvious to anyone who
knows the Qur'an well. A cautious believer who is familiar
with the Book of Allah never misses the signs of the hypo-
crites, who have sickness in their hearts. No matter how
hard they try to conceal them, the signs they bear of their
disbelief reveal themselves in their actions, in their speech
and in the way they react to events. Believers cannot name a
person who reveals such signs as a "definite hypocrite", but
would be cautious of this person. Some of the signs that help
to identify hypocrites are mentioned in the verses below:
The hypocrites think they deceive Allah, but He is
deceiving them. When they get up to pray, they get
up lazily, showing off to people, and only remem-
bering Allah a very little. (Surat an-Nisa': 142)
The verse makes it clear that seeking to impress people
by their behaviour and trying to show off are signs that can
be perceived by believers. It is stated in a verse of the Qur'an
that the real face of these people will ultimately be revealed
and if Allah wills, they will be known by their features and
by their manner of speech:
Or did those with sickness in their hearts imagine
that Allah would not expose their malevolence? If
We wished, We would show them to you and you
would know them by their mark and know them by

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HARUN YAHYA