Characteristics of Minor Hypocrisy
With regard to minor hypocrisy – which is also called hypocrisy of actions – this refers to hypocrisy in deeds. That is when a person does righteous actions but they do not truly represent what is in his heart, or he behaves differently in private and in public, but that does not have to do with the fundamentals of faith mentioned above. Such a person may fall into one of the branches of hypocrisy of actions, or he may have some of the characteristics of the hypocrites, such as lying, treachery and breaking promises.
It was narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “There are four characteristics, whoever has them all is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of them has one of the characteristics of hypocrisy, until he gives it up:
⛔️ when he is entrusted with something he betrays that trust,
⛔️ when he speaks he lies,
⛔️ when he makes a covenant he breaks it, and
⛔️ when he disputes he resorts to obscene speech.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (54) and Muslim (58).
If any of those who believe in Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah) has any of these characteristics, he has fallen into minor hypocrisy to the extent to which he has done such deeds or has that characteristic, because he resembles the hypocrites in some of their actions, even if he is not exactly like them.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The word hypocrisy refers to major hypocrisy which means concealing disbelief, or minor hypocrisy which means behaving differently in private and in public with regard to obligatory duties. … This is well known among the scholars and this is how they interpreted the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him),
“The signs of the hypocrite are three:
⛔️ when he speaks he lies,
⛔️when he makes a promise he breaks it, and
⛔️ when he is entrusted with something he betrays that trust.”
Narrated by at-Tirmidhi and others. More than one of the early scholars said: A lesser form of kufr, a lesser form of hypocrisy, a lesser form of shirk.
Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 11/140
