Hadith Of The Week – Volume 03 Issue 27
The four signs of hypocrisy: A reflection on some of the roots of the Battle of Siffin
Introduction & Occasion of Reflecting on This Hadith
On the 22nd of Muharram, we remember the arrival of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) at Siffin to confront the army of Mu’awiyah. In Islamic history, Mu’awiyah is portrayed as a symbol of deception and hypocrisy, standing in opposition to Imam Ali (peace be upon him), who embodied genuine Islamic values and justice. On this occasion, it is appropriate to reflect on a profound saying of the Noble Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him) regarding the signs of hypocrisy – which were all present in Muawiya:
قال رسول الله (ص): «أربعٌ من كنّ فيه كان منافقاً خالصاً، ومن كانت فيه خصلةٌ منهنّ كانت فيه خصلةٌ من نفاقٍ حتى يدعها: إذا حدّث كذب، وإذا عاهد غدر، وإذا وعد أخلف، وإذا خاصم فجر.»
(نضرة النعيم في مكارم أخلاق الرسول الكريم، ج 11، ص 5636)
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“There are four qualities; whoever possesses all of them is a complete hypocrite, and whoever possesses one of them has a characteristic of hypocrisy until he abandons it: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a covenant, he betrays it; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he disputes, he behaves in a wicked and abusive manner.”
Educational Lessons of the Hadith for Teenagers and Youth
- Choose Your Friends Carefully and Stay Away from Harmful Traits
If someone shows one or more of these four behaviours – lying, betrayal, breaking promises, or injustice in conflict – you should be very careful, because such traits can seriously damage trust and character over time.
Practical Challenge: Think about your current friends and gently step back from anyone who shows these behaviours, while focusing more on friends who are honest, reliable and respectful.
- Stay Away from the Signs of Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is a very dangerous spiritual disease. A believer should consciously and actively avoid lying, betrayal, breaking promises and unfair behaviour in arguments.
Practical Challenge: At the end of each day, ask yourself whether you showed any of these four traits and make a plan to avoid them tomorrow.
- Practise Regular Self-Assessment
The first step towards improvement is recognising your own weaknesses and being honest with yourself.
Practical Challenge: Once a week, rate yourself from 1 to 10 in honesty, trustworthiness, keeping promises and fairness during disagreements.
- Be Fair During Arguments
Even when someone upsets you, Islam teaches you not to insult, exaggerate or treat them unjustly.
Practical Challenge: The next time you have a disagreement, focus on solving the problem without attacking the person.
- Respect Your Promises and Commitments
A Muslim should take their promises seriously, except for those promises that go against God’s pleasure. Rather, the focus should be on fulfilling those promises that are in line with God’s approval and piety.
Practical Challenge: Before making a promise, ask yourself: “Is this pleasing to Allah, and can I truly fulfil it?”
- Never Justify Lying
Small lies often lead to bigger lies. Truthfulness should be maintained in every situation.
Practical Challenge: For one week, avoid all forms of lying, including excuses, exaggerations and misleading statements.
- Become a Trustworthy Person
Honesty, loyalty, keeping promises and fairness make people trust and respect you.
Practical Challenge: Choose one action each day that shows others they can depend on you, such as being punctual, honest or responsible.
- Stay Respectful During Disagreements
A good Muslim controls their words even when angry.
Practical Challenge: During your next disagreement, avoid insults, sarcasm and shouting.
Educational Lessons of the Hadith for Parents
- Teach Your Children to Recognise Warning Signs
Help your children look at people’s actions, not just their words, when choosing friends and companions.
Practical Challenge: Discuss these four signs with your children and ask them to identify positive qualities they should look for in friends.
- Protect Your Home from These Four Traits
Lying, betrayal, breaking promises and unfair arguments can damage trust within the family.
Practical Challenge: At the end of each week, reflect on whether any of these behaviours appeared in your family interactions.
- Guide Your Family Towards Good Company
Close companionship with dishonest and unreliable people can negatively influence character and behaviour.
Practical Challenge: Take time to learn about your children’s friends and encourage relationships with trustworthy and respectful individuals.
- Talk About the Dangers of Hypocrisy
Children need to understand that saying one thing and doing another harms both faith and relationships.
Practical Challenge: Have a family discussion about why honesty, loyalty and sincerity are important in everyday life.
- Build a Family Culture of Trustworthiness
A strong family is built on truthfulness, reliability and mutual trust.
Practical Challenge: Encourage every family member to choose one trust-building habit to practise during the week, such as keeping promises or speaking honestly.
- Avoid Empty Promises
Repeated unfulfilled promises teach children that promises are not important.
Practical Challenge: Make only promises that you are certain you can keep during the coming week.
- Resolve Conflicts with Good Manners
Children copy the way their parents handle disagreements.
Practical Challenge: During a family disagreement, focus on listening before responding.
Educational Lessons of the Hadith for Imams and Teachers
- Teach Through Historical Examples of Hypocrisy
Share stories from history about hypocrites and the harm they caused to faith communities, so people can recognise similar patterns today.
Practical Challenge: Prepare one short, clear story each week that shows the consequences of hypocrisy in real life and present it to your audience.
- Emphasise Core Islamic Ethics
Regularly highlight the importance of honesty, loyalty, keeping promises, and fairness – especially the four traits mentioned in the hadith.
Practical Challenge: Dedicate part of your weekly teaching to explaining one of these four traits with a simple real-life example.
- Be a Living Example of What You Teach
Your behaviour is more powerful than your words. People learn ethics by observing how you act in daily life.
Practical Challenge: Choose one area of your conduct (speech, promises, or fairness) and consciously improve it so it aligns with your teachings.
- Support Teachings with Qur’an and Authentic Tradition
Match the educational messages of this hadith with verses of the Qur’an and the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). For example, a Qur’anic supporting example for “وَإِذَا خَاصَمَ فَجَرَ” (“and when he disputes, he behaves unjustly / deviates from the truth”) is the following noble verse:
وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى
“And do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.” (Qur’an 5:8)
Practical Challenge: In each lesson, include at least one verse or narration that clearly supports the moral point being discussed.
Example evidence from Quran on وإذا خاصم فجر:
- Encourage Ethical Reflection in the Community
Help your audience regularly examine their own behaviour in light of Islamic morals.
Practical Challenge: End your weekly sessions with a simple self-reflection question related to honesty, trust, or fairness.
- Handle Criticism with Dignity
Leaders should remain fair and respectful when challenged.
Practical Challenge: The next time someone disagrees with you, respond calmly and reflect on their points.
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