Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah. Dear brothers, in the previous episode, we mentioned that among the characteristics of hypocrisy is complaining when afflicted and we contemplated Allah's saying ((And among people is he who worships Allah on the edge)). Today, we mention another characteristic, which is the lack of preparedness to sacrifice for the sake of Allah. Allah says: ((And among people is he who says, 'I believe in Allah,' but when he is harmed for the sake of Allah, he considers the trial of people as the punishment of Allah))...Claiming faith with the tongue is easy. But when they are harmed for the sake of the faith they claim, their weak hearts tremble because they see this worldly harm as equal in their perception to the severe punishment of Allah in the Hereafter or even worse. So, they choose to abandon religion to escape the harm of this world, even if it leads them to the punishment of Allah. Allah says in the verse that follows: ((And let the believers know that they will be tested, and let the hypocrites know that they will be tested (11)) (Al-Ankabut). Yes...Allah will test His servants with trials and tribulations to distinguish the believer from the hypocrite.
A person may be tested for the sake of Allah and take the concession of concealment and denial in the heart, leaving the resolve of denial with the hand and tongue. This is acceptable within certain limits. But the problem lies with those who, when tested for the sake of Allah, "take a stance" from religion and their "reaction" becomes such that they overstep in duties and commit prohibitions as if they found the deal of religion to be a losing one!
Whoever has hypocrisy in their heart does not hesitate to sacrifice themselves, but they also cannot bear the loss of worldly interests, even if they are prohibited, such as usury and the sale of prohibited goods. Whoever does not strive against their own soul, how can they strive with their own self? Whoever does not sacrifice the forbidden earnings, how can they sacrifice their wealth, time, and self for the sake of Allah? And in return, what do they hope for the Paradise whose expanse is the heavens and the earth prepared for the righteous?
Whoever has hypocrisy in their heart demands that Islam bring them worldly benefit before they are satisfied with Islam! Allah describes this type: ((And among them are those who criticize you concerning the charities. If they are given from it, they are satisfied, but if they are not given from it, they become angry)). They are not satisfied with the religion unless it brings them worldly gain. These are the ones who are doomed to misery. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ((Woe to the slave of the dinar, the slave of the dirham, and the slave of the cloak. If given, he is pleased; if not given, he is displeased. Woe to him, he is turned upside down, and if he is pricked, he does not come out)) (Al-Bukhari). So, the slave of the dirham and the dinar moves between principles and methodologies in pursuit of money and worldly gains. He runs after the glitter of the dirham on his hands and feet, perhaps the thorns will enter his hands and feet in this pursuit...and then (he does not come out)...meaning the thorn does not come out of him as the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed against him. The slave of the dirham and the dinar may not openly renounce Islam, but he changes and alters it according to his desires and claims that what he is upon is in accordance with Islam...while in reality, he has sold his religion. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ((Hasten to good deeds before trials come like pieces of dark night. A man may wake up a believer and sleep a disbeliever, or sleep a believer and wake up a disbeliever. He sells his religion for a portion of this world)) (Muslim). O Allah, we ask You for steadfastness in the matter and resolve upon righteousness. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.