Ethics of Islam

ing oneself into other people’s favour by making a show of
one’s acts of worship. [If a person whose actions and words are
intended for hypocrisy possesses religious knowledge, he is called
a hypocrite (munâfiq). If he does not possess religious
knowledge, he is called religious fanatic. Any enemy of Islam
who does not possess scientific knowledge but introduces himself
as such in order to preach his own ideas as scientific knowledge
for the purpose of deceiving Muslims and undermining their
beliefs and religion, is called a sham scientist (zindiq). Muslims
should distrust both these types of people. Hypocrisy could only
be permissible in case of ikrâh (duress) which is mulji’ (coercive,
compulsory). “Ikrâh” means to force someone to do something
which they do not want to do. If the duress subsumes threats to
kill or mutilate a part of the body, then it is called “ikrâh mulji’
(duress which is coercive).”. [Violence perpetrated by racketeers
and torment inflicted by an oppressive government would be
instances of ikrâh mulji’. At such instances, it becomes necessary
to do what one is coerced to do. Coercion which consists of
threats of jailing or beating is called light coercion. Light coercion
will not make hypocrisy permissible. Opposite of hypocrisy is
ikhlâs, which means to do the acts of worship only for the
purpose of pleasing Allâhu ta’âlâ, without any worldly
considerations. A person with ikhlâs never thinks of showing his
worships to others. Others’ seeing a person with ikhlâs doing acts
of worship will not detract from his ikhlâs. Rasûlullah ‘sall-
Allâhu ’alaihi wa sal-lam’ states in a hadîth-i-sherîf: “Worship
Allâhu ta’âlâ as if you were seeing Him! Though you don’t see
Him, He sees you!”
Helping others in their worldly affairs in order to obtain their
love and praise is hypocrisy. Hypocrisy which is done through
worships is much worse than this. The hypocrisy which is done
without thinking the consent of Allâhu ta’âlâ is the worst of all of
the above. Performing worships so that one may ask assistance
from Allâhu ta’âlâ for worldly affairs would not be hypocrisy. For
example, performing prayer for rain, or performing istihâra
prayers for the purpose of seeking guidance from Allâhu ta’âlâ is
not hypocrisy. Some scholars also said that the following actions
do not constitute hypocrisy: getting paid for being a religious
leader (Imâm) or preacher or teacher or for reciting âyats of the
Qur’ân in order to get rid of worldly troubles like distress,
sickness, or poverty. These actions contain both intentions of
worships and worldly benefits. Going on a pilgrimage (hajj) for
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