Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah. Dear brothers, we are still discussing the phenomenon of hypocrisy so that we may purify ourselves from it and meet Allah Most High with a pure heart. We may think we are completely free from this disease, so we overlook the verses that warn against it as if they are directed to others with whom we have no connection, without realizing that they are addressing us. Therefore, let us pay attention to the Quranic truths so that we may understand the phenomenon of hypocrisy more and more before discussing the characteristics of hypocrisy itself. The first truth is that hypocrisy is not on one level but is divided. You may see goodness and faith in your heart and feel reassured that there is no hypocrisy in it. You do not realize that a person may combine hypocrisy and faith. What is the evidence for this? During the Prophet's journey to the Battle of Uhud, part of the army returned without the permission of the Messenger of Allah, saying, 'If we had known there would be fighting, we would not have followed you.' Allah Most High described them as follows: ((They were closer to disbelief on that day than to faith)) (Al-Imran 167). Ibn Kathir said: (They used this as evidence that a person's condition may change, so he may be in a state closer to disbelief and in another state closer to faith) end. See how Allah Most High has placed faith on one side and disbelief on the other. Those mentioned were between the two on the Day of Uhud, but they were closer to disbelief. - In his book (The Friends of the Merciful and the Friends of Satan), Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, explained this verse ((They were closer to disbelief on that day than to faith)) and said: (He made these people closer to disbelief than to faith, so it is known that they are mixed, and their disbelief is stronger. Others may be mixed, and their faith is stronger... Thus, He, may He be glorified and exalted, has shown that a single person may have a portion of Allah's friendship according to his faith and a portion of enmity toward Allah according to his disbelief and hypocrisy) (Part 1, p. 23). This is also supported by the Prophet's saying, peace be upon him: ((Four characteristics: whoever has all of them is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of them has a characteristic of hypocrisy until he abandons it)) (Agreed upon). See how he, peace be upon him, has explained that a person may have characteristics that make him have some hypocrisy even though he is not a pure hypocrite. We do not differentiate here, brothers, between doctrinal hypocrisy and practical hypocrisy, for this distinction is only mentioned to prevent Muslims from exaggerating in declaring someone an unbeliever because of one of these characteristics. Our purpose here is to warn against the characteristics of hypocrisy within ourselves, so it is appropriate in such a case to call it hypocrisy as Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him, called it, so that the warning may be as intended, rather than leaving our souls and the impact of the texts that speak of hypocrisy if it is said that this characteristic or that is practical hypocrisy that does not take one out of the religion. So this was the first truth: that hypocrisy has degrees, and a person may combine hypocrisy and faith. We will continue to contemplate this phenomenon in the upcoming episodes, by the permission of Allah. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.