Page 15 - The Basic Concepts in the Qur’an

The basic characteristic of hypocrites is their indulgence in fitnah. The Arabic version of
the word “hypocrite” is “munafiq”, which means “the one who makes a division.” Dividing
believers is a fitnah as well as a great sin. There are verses in the Qur’an stating that hypocrites
try to practise fitnah among believers:
If they had come out with you, they would not have added to your (strength) but only
(made for) disorder, hurrying to and fro in your midst and sowing sedition among you,
and there would have been some among you who would have listened to them. But
Allah knows well those who do wrong.
(Al-Tawba, 47)

And if an entry had been effected to them from the sides of the (city), and they had
been incited to sedition, they would certainly have brought it to pass, but with a brief
delay!
(Al-Ahzab, 14)

Indeed they had plotted sedition before, and upset matters for you, until the truth
arrived, and the decree of Allah became manifest, much to their disgust.
(Al-Tawba, 47-48)

Should their plans be disclosed to believers, hypocrites plotting against the messenger and
believers try to convince believers of their innocence. They make an effort to reduce such
treachery to insignificance. They surely go in great fear of believers and punishment, and thus
conduct themselves as if they have never committed an offense. Moreover, they ask believers
not to treat them like other hypocrites and demand the continuance of their relations.
Among them is (many) a man who says: “Grant me exemption and do not expose me
to temptation. Have they not succumbed to temptation already?” And indeed hell
surrounds the unbelievers on all sides.
(Al-Tawba, 49)
The verse asserts that hypocrites are liars and are involved in fitnah, just like others. Allah
warns believers not to be deceived by their fraud.
Unbelievers and hypocrites will suffer the most grievous penalty in the hell in return to the
fitnah they have caused:

“Taste this your trial, the punishment which you have sought to hasten!”
(Adh-Dhariyat, 14)

Dispute Among Believers Causes Fitnah

Oppression prevails on earth unless believers provide protection to one another. This fact
is stated in the following verse:
The unbelievers are protectors, one of another: Unless you do this, (protect each
other), there will be tumult and oppression on earth, and great mischief.
(Al-Anfal, 73)

Believers conduct themselves with caution, taking care not to become involved in any
issue which is likely to foment oppression. Certain attitudes and behaviour, albeit unintentional,
may well underlie such injustice. As mentioned in the verse above, failure to protect one
another or allowing disputes to arise among believers can also be causes of oppression, in
which case the responsibility would rest also with the believers. True believers, therefore pay
the utmost attention to giving each other comfort, care and protection.