Hypocrisy; Society’s Biggest Enemy
The issue of Nifaq, one of whose meanings is being different in reality and in appearance, has also been mentioned in various Surahs of the Quran.
The Holy Book talks about a group named Munafiqeen (the hypocrite). They neither had the courage and Ikhlas to become believers nor had the power and bravery to explicitly oppose the truth. They had infiltrated into the ranks of Muslims and recognizing their hypocrisy was difficult. The Holy Quran offers signs to reveal their true nature.
Since Islam has throughout history received the hardest blows from hypocrites, the Quran addresses them with reproving words.
The first sign of Nifaq is duality in the appearance and in the reality. For example they talk about having faith and being believers but there is no trace of faith in their hearts.
God says in the Quran: “There are some people who say: 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day, ' yet they are not believers.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 8)
Telling lies is another sign of the hypocrites. They deny the reality when they see their secrets have been revealed. They even swear to lies to prove themselves.
According to the Quran: “They swear by Allah that they said nothing. Yet they did utter the word of disbelief and disbelieved after they had submitted. They intended what they never attained to, and took revenge only that Allah enriched them, and His Messenger, of His Bounty. If they repent, it will indeed be better for them; but if they turn away, Allah will sternly punish them both in this world and in the Everlasting Life. They have none on earth to protect or help them.” (Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 74)
