Blank

Return to Qur’aan And Sunna

The Shahaadah- A Declaration of Faith Or A Junnah?

During our time of Fitan it would be naïve for us to think the hypocrites amongst the Ummah of Muhammad are few. This conclusion would surely not make sense.

We have many scholars and writers talking about the errors and murderous ideology of the extremists and the deception and aggression of the disbelievers, but very little is being said about the hypocrites.

Although Allah is The One Who knows the hearts of His slaves including their traces and fill of hypocrisy, He has exposed the hypocrites through His Blessed Words in His Noble Book, The Book of Allah, Qur’aan Al Majeed. So let us turn to His Speech and understand some of these characteristics and see how they apply in our time today.

When the hypocrites come to you, they say, ‘We bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah.’ Allah knows that you indeed are the Messenger of Allah, and Allah bears witness that the Munaafiqoon are Khaathiboon. (Qur’aan 63:1)

Many attributes of the hypocrites will be found in Surat Al Munaafiqoon. Allah opens this Surah with the above verse, wherein He calls the hypocrites Munaafiqqon, describing them as those who have Nifaaq or hypocrisy. He also describes them as Khaathiboon, highlighting their characteristic of being liars.

Their untruthfulness begins and stems from their utterance of the Shahaadah which they utter with their mouths and not from their hearts. So despite the fact that they say they are Muslim and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, their do not really believe it in their hearts. In this aspect they have lied and disbelieved despite having said the Shahaadah outwardly.

And if you look at the hypocrites who came later, after the death of the Prophet, they continued with this same practice, only their opposition and untruthfulness was towards following the Ahaadeeth and Sunna of the Prophet-the equivalent of his living example. So despite bearing witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, they had a great aversion to his Sunna, departing from it and opposing it. And this practice continued until now, with many from this Ummah who have said the Shahaadah and openly declared that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah turning their backs to the creed and actions within his Sunna.

How can they pledge allegiance to Muhammad when they do not pledge allegiance to the narrations which carry his Sunna? Opposition to the Sunna is nothing but clear and open opposition to Muhammad. Allah spoke the truth when He described the Munaafiqqon as Khaathiboon.

They have made their oaths a Junnah. (Qur’aan 63:2)

What follows in the second verse gives important additional information about the hypocrites. Allah proceeds by describing an important attribute of the hypocrites- namely their taking of their Shahaadah as a Junnah, meaning a shield or screen.

So by saying the Shahaadah we have to accept their declaration of faith. We cannot make takfeer on them by calling them hypocrites or disbelievers unless the people of knowledge establish the proof. So we, the people, have to accept them as Muslims. This is what the Shahaadah requires from us. In this manner the Shahaadah of the hypocrites becomes a Junnah instead of a true declaration of faith, becoming a shield behind which they can hide their hypocrisy and still live and be amongst the Muslims- calling themselves Muslims.

They have made their oaths a Junnah. Thus they hinder from the path of Allah. (Qur’aan 63:2)

Allah continues by describing how such a Junnah leads to evil, for through it they are able to hinder mankind from the path of Allah by hindering the establishment of the true teachings of Islam. When the people who follow the Sunna talk to them and try to reason with them, they avidly oppose them and hinder them from establishing and reviving the Sunna. They say, ‘we are also Muslims,’ but their actions are far from Islam.

Furthermore, behind such a shield they can spread other kinds of evil by professing to represent Islam in their speech, writings, gatherings and persons. They are free to engage in debate, religious discussions and political endeavours. They can pick up the microphone and pen and say whatever they wish about our religion and the world will consider it as a voice from amongst the voices of the Muslims. This causes a problem for not only the believers, but for the disbelievers who fail to understand and be attracted towards the light of Islam. Instead they begin to point fingers at Islam and attack the Ummah through its many lines of divisions and weaknesses. This causes further problem for the Muslims when the Fitan increases and spreads.

Have you not seen those who take as friends a people upon whom is the wrath of Allah? They are neither of you nor of them, (Qur’aan 58:14)

In the above verse Allah further sheds light on their characteristics and behaviours of the hypocrites, including the fact that they double deal, taking the sides of both believers and disbelievers yet belonging to neither side. It is in this context that Allah says, ‘Maa Hum Minkum Wa Laa Minhum,’ meaning they are neither of you nor of them.

In todays time we have many who profess loyalty to Islam in their speech yet greatly oppose it in their belief and action. Their outward identity is that of a Muslim and their outward allegiance is to Islam, yet they do not show any such loyalty and obedience to Allah and His Messenger. This is pure hypocrisy and they know it.

These same people outwardly display closeness with the disbelievers yet talk ill of them, hate them and blame them for all their troubles. On the one hand they copy their ways and live within their society, and on the other hand they show extreme hatred towards them when they return to friends, families and culture.

So Allah spoke the truth when He said, ‘Maa Hum Minkum Wa Laa Minhum,’ for they are neither here nor there, neither with the believers nor with the disbelievers- they are in a class of their own. Such a lethal shield, they have covered themselves, taking their oaths as nothing but a Junnah.

So Allah exposed the hypocrites and informed us that people who claim to be Muslim will go around saying ‘Muhammadur Rasoolullah’ but their statements will be nothing but lies- to this Allah bore witness.

Do people think that they will be left alone because they say “we believe”, and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who came before them. And Allah will certainly make known those of you who are truthful and He will certainly make known those of you who are the Khaathiboon. (Qur’aan 29:2-3)

However much the Muslims claim to believe, Allah will not leave them alone merely because they say so. Rather He has promised to test them and make known those who are truthful and those who are the Khaathiboon. Allah again uses the word Khaathiboon, the liars, describing the hypocrites within this Ummah. So through these tests Allah establishes the proof against the hypocrites. This leads to the question, ‘what is the test?’

We sent no messenger, but to be obeyed by the leave of Allah (Qur’aan 4:64)

The test is clear for all those who read the texts of the Qur’aan and Sunna which do nothing but reinforce our internal Fitrah, reviving and strengthening our natural inclination to the truth. For all those who say, ‘Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,’ they have said, ‘Muhammad is the one who is to be obeyed by the leave of Allah,’ for Allah only sent Messengers to be obeyed- and this is the test.

So the hypocrites are the ones who bear witness to Muhammad being the Messenger of Allah without following up their declaration with obedience to him. These are the people who have established the proof against themselves by contradicting themselves, and the ones whom Allah has described as the Khaathiboon.

On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together; then they will swear to Him as they swear to you. And they think they have something. Verily they are the Khaathiboon. (Qur’aan 58:18)

And when the earth is overcome, throwing up its burdens and treasures, becoming flat and barren for all who are resurrected upon it, the eyes will stare in extreme horror and the hearts will pound and sink with overwhelming fear, as the angels gather mankind together. That day every soul will remember its endeavours and the truthfulness of its heart. Humbled and subdued, mankind will stand in awe and dread before His Majesty, The Creator. With angels in rows and mankind in groups, no one will speak except those whom Allah permits, and mankind will stand in silence. On this Day, Allah will keep the hypocrites in their state of misguidance, allowing their hearts to retain false hope. They will actually believe that they have something with which they can win Allah’s favour. They will swear to Allah that they were believers. Yet all their pleas will be rejected for Allah will expose their hypocrisy and lies. How often they deceived themselves and perceived it not, until the time when Allah will extinguish their light.

And obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy. (Qur’aan 3:132)

How will we be when we remember how we lived, calling ourselves Muslim. How precious will be the promise of Allah’s Mercy that Day? How will we feel when we remember that Allah’s Mercy was for those who obeyed His Messengers? That Day Allah will establish the truth. He will most surely make it known all those who were truthful and recipients of His Mercy, and all those who were amongst the Khaathiboon.

O Ummah of Muhammad, ‘Obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy,’ and bear witness to the truth that Muhammad most surely is the Messenger of Allah, the one whom Allah sent to be obeyed. If you believe this, then obey him, and let Allah bear witness to your truth.

Written by Kamillah Khan