The Hypocrite

Imam Ali (AS) said, A hypocrite’s tongue pleases but his heart causes harm.

Imam Ali (AS) said, A hypocrite’s words are beautiful but his actions are a painful malady.

Imam Ali (AS) said, The hypocrite is a shameless, foolish, wretched sycophant.

Imam Ali (AS) said, The hypocrite flatters himself but maligns others.

Imam Ali (AS) said, The most obvious of hypocrite among the people is one who enjoins obedience [to Allah] but does not act upon it himself, and forbids sin but does not refrain from it himself.

Imam Ali (AS) said, Be cautious of the hypocrites for indeed they are misguided and misguide others, they have erred and make others err, their hearts are diseased while their outward appearance looks pure.

Imam Ali (AS) said, The hypocrite is sceptical [and puts others in doubt].

Imam Ali (AS) said, The hypocrite is sly, harmful and suspicious.

Imam Ali (AS) said, I fear for you from every eloquent speaker who is a hypocrite at heart, he says what you know [to be good] but does what you dislike [and know to be bad].

Imam Ali (AS) said, He (‘a) described the hypocrites thus: they are jealous of [those in] comfort, intensify [the] distress [of the distressed] and destroy hopes [of the hopeful]. Their fallen victims are lying on every path, they have means to approach every heart and they have false tears for every [occasion of] grief.

Imam Ali (AS) said, It is the habit of hypocrites to change their character [depending on their circumstances].

Imam Ali (AS) said, He (‘a) said about the hypocrites: They have indeed prepared for every truth a falsehood, and for every straight thing something crooked, and for every living thing a killer, and for every [closed] door a key, and for every night a lamp.

Imam Ali (AS) said, Every hypocrite is a sceptic [who puts doubts in the minds of the people].

Imam Ali (AS) said, One whose hypocrisy abounds, his sincerity will not be recognized.

Imam Ali (AS) said, How repulsive is it for a human being to agree externally while being hypocritical internally.

Imam Ali (AS) said, How repulsive it is for a human being to be two-faced.

Imam Ali (AS) said, The example of the hypocrite is that of a colocynth, its leaves are green but its taste is bitter.

Imam Ali (AS) said, The hypocrisy of a person stems from the inferiority [and humiliation] he finds within himself.

Imam Ali (AS) said, About the hypocrites [he (a) said]: They are the congregation of Satan and the dwellers of hellfire. These are the party of Satan, and indeed it is the party of Satan who are the losers.

Imam Ali (AS) said, They walk stealthily and tread slowly, hiding behind trees. Their words are [like] a cure but their actions are incurable diseases. They exchange praise [with each other] and come near each other through (or are careful of) reward. They obtain what they covet by means of despair. When they talk they create doubts, they dissemble in their speech and when they speak they delude (or distort).

Imam Ali (AS) said, The [person who is] most severe in his hypocrisy is one who enjoins obedience but does not act upon it himself, and forbids sin but does not refrain from it himself.