The Four Signs of a Hypocrite

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

Our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam says,

أَرْبَعٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ كَانَ مُنَافِقًا خَالِصًا، وَمَنْ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ حَتَّى يَدَعَهَا إِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَانَ وَإِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ وَإِذَا عَاهَدَ غَدَرَ، وَإِذَا خَاصَمَ فَجَرَ

There’s a ḥadīth we read in last Friday’s Khutbah that beautifully explains the characteristics of a hypocrite.

A hypocrite has these four characteristics. Our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam says, “If all four of these characteristics are found in a person, that person is a sheer hypocrite.”

If only one is present, it means he has a part of hypocrisy; but if they repent, that too disappears. Shukr to Allāh ﷻ, getting rid of these characteristics isn’t that difficult.

First: When they speak, they lie. Second: When they make a promise, they don’t keep it. Third: When something is entrusted to them, they betray the trust and don’t respect it, denying it by saying, “I don’t have it.” Fourth: When they argue or quarrel with someone, they go too far and cause a scandal. They shout and yell a lot.

Actually, getting rid of these bad habits isn’t difficult at all. Sometimes you say, “I will struggle with my ego and get rid of my ego.” You can’t get rid of your ego. However, a person can easily rid themselves of such bad habits.

They don’t lie, they keep their word, they don’t betray trust, they don’t stab anyone in the back, and they get along well with people. Furthermore, they don’t cause scandals in arguments, and when fighting; they don’t shout and yell excessively.

These four characteristics of a hypocrite are bad qualities. As we said, our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam says that if someone possesses all of these characteristics, may Allāh ﷻ protect us, they are an absolute hypocrite.

If a person has only one of these signs of hypocrisy, they can easily rid themselves of it. Shukr to Allāh ﷻ, most of these bad habits are absent in people of ṭarīqah, with Allāh’s ﷻ permission.

Even if there are only a few signs, it is not difficult to get rid of them. May Allāh ﷻ help us. May we be freed from these bad habits and undesirable qualities, in shā’a Llāh.

May Allāh ﷻ protect us and not let us follow our egos, in shā’a Llāh. Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq.

Al-Fatiha.

•⁠ ⁠Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbaniق

9 August 2026/ 26 Safar 1448

Fajr Prayer – Akbaba Dergah, Istanbul

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