The Believer’s War Against Hypocrisy

Early Morning Reflections

Surah Al-Baqarah: My Protection

يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ ٩

“They seek to deceive Allah and the believers, yet they only deceive themselves, but they fail to perceive it.” (2:9)

Nifaaq means to show conformity or agreement, and to conceal evil. 
The goal of hypocrisy is to create tests and problems in the Ummah. Allah speaks about these forms of evil so that the believer knows what to protect themselves from; this is why the type of Kufr is specified. So that the attack can be recognised.

• The purpose behind the actions of the hypocrites is to trick the believers.
• Rather than fall down the rabbit hole of evil and deception, the believer should focus on Allah’s mercy and find hope in Him, Who is the One deceiving them. Here is a comfort for the believer.
• By holding onto the guidance of Allah, one can avoid falling into the trap of the deceivers.

What the believer has is valuable. We, however, tend to lose hope in the solutions the Qur’an gives us. The purpose of these Ayat are to protect the goodness inside the believer, for as believers, Iman is purity.

فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌۭ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضًۭا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ ١٠

“There is sickness in their hearts, and Allah only lets their sickness increase. They will suffer a painful punishment for their lies.” (2:10)

This disease in their hearts is the Kufr (‘hypocrisy’) they are hiding; a spiritual sickness, which is caused by their ingratitude to Allah.

• When Allah bestows one Iman and faith, the believer must protect it from the sickness and malady of impurity. 
• This begins with Du’as in the home, which cleanses the spirit. 
• Secondly, the believer must clean their home of content that compromises that purity.