Tribulations and Their Relationship to the appearance of Hypocrisy - الفتن وعلاقتها بظهور النفاق

Tribulations (Fitan) and Their Relationship to the appearance of Hypocrisy In the previous Friday sermon, we spoke about the danger of tribulations upon the hearts, according to the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ in which he said, on the authority of Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman: “Trials will be presented to the hearts like a woven mat, stick by stick. Any heart that absorbs them will have a black spot marked upon it, and any heart that rejects them will have a white spot marked upon it, until the hearts become of two types: a white heart like a smooth stone, which no trial can harm as long as the heavens and the earth endure; and a black, overturned heart like an upside-down vessel, which neither recognizes good nor rejects evil except what agrees with its desires.” Among the signs of the danger of tribulations in the end times is what Abu Hurairah narrated: that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much: hypocrisy will appear, trustworthiness will be lifted, mercy will be withdrawn, the trustworthy will be accused, and the untrustworthy will be entrusted… Dark towering afflictions will settle upon you like lofty mountains of intense darkness.” They said: “What are the dark towering afflictions, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Tribulations like pieces of a dark night.” This hadith describes a time in which hypocrisy spreads, trustworthiness disappears, mercy declines, and standards become reversed: the truthful are accused while the deceitful are trusted. A time of severe confusion where truth, li pieces of the night, is no longer clear. Our Prophet ﷺ spoke the truth when he warned against hypocrisy, for it is a tremendous disease and one of the signs of the Hour. Major hypocrisy is when a person outwardly displays belief in Allah, His messengers, and the Last Day, while inwardly concealing disbelief. Allah says in Surah Al-Nisa in translation: “Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire.” Dear brothers and sisters, what are the characteristics of the hypocrites? There are many, so pay close attention so that you may protect yourselves from them. Firstly is Hesitation and Instability: Allah says Surah Al-Nisa in translation “Wavering between this and that, belonging neither to these nor to those.” So the hypocrite is outwardly with the believers but inwardly with the disbelievers. Secondly, they turn away from the Truth. Allah says Surah Al-Nisa in translation “And when it is said to them: Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger, you see the hypocrites turning away from you in aversion.” Thirdly, is Deception and Plotting. Allah says Surah Al-Baqarah in translation: “And when they meet those who believe, they say: ‘We believe,’ but when they are alone with their devils, they say: ‘Indeed, we are with you.’” Fourthly, is Lying, Betrayal, and Treachery. These are among their most prominent practical characteristics, combining corruption of both the outward and inward self. Fifthly, is spreading Corruption on Earth. Allah says Surah Al-Baqarah: “And when it is said to them: Do not spread corruption on the earth, they say: ‘We are only reformers.’” Sixthly, is Mocking the Religion. Allah says Surah At-Tawbah in translation “Was it Allah, His verses, and His Messenger that you were mocking?” Seventhly, is Envy and Hostility Toward the Believers. Allah says Surah At-Tawbah: “If good befalls you, it grieves them; but if disaster strikes you, they say: ‘We had taken our precautions beforehand.’” Eighthly, is Enjoining Evil and Forbidding Good. Allah says Surah At-Tawbah in translation: “They enjoin evil and forbid what is right and withhold their hands.” and finally is Greed and Covetousness. Allah says Surah At-Tawbah “If they are given from it, they are pleased; but if they are not given from it, they become angry.” Dear Muslims, notice the connection between the two hadiths. The hadith of Hudhayfah explains how tribulations affect the heart, while the hadith of Abu Hurairah explains the consequences in society. When hearts weaken, hypocrisy appears. When tribulations settle in the hearts, trustworthiness is lost. And when hearts become darkened, standards are reversed. So remember that tribulations do not come suddenly. They begin small, then repeat, then settle until the heart changes and reaches the state described by the Prophet ﷺ: “He neither recognises good nor rejects evil except what agrees with his desires.” So protect your hearts, dear brothers and sisters: with sincerity to Allah, by holding firmly to the Qur’an and Sunnah, by rejecting evil, struggling against desires, and constantly asking Allah for steadfastness. We are living in a time in which tribulations are increasing, hypocrisy is becoming apparent, and concepts are becoming confused. There is no salvation except for the one whose heart Allah keeps firm. The issue is not merely possessing lots of knowledge, but rather the soundness and steadfastness of the heart.