The foolishness of hypocrites - III

They Are In Conflict With One Another

Solidarity and unity is another important characteristic of believers. Hypocrites, on the other hand, are afflicted with a contrary. Though they all share the common characteristic of hypocrisy, they are always in conflict with one another. That is because, unlike believers, they have no common goal. That is to say, they do not seek Allah's favor. On the contrary, they all pursue their own personal benefit, and therefore, inevitably, their interests clash. In the Qur'an, Allah draws our attention to this trait of the hypocrites:

… You are a greater cause of terror in their breasts than Allah! That is because they are people who do not understand. They will not fight against you all together as a group except in fortified towns or behind high walls. Their hostility towards each other is intense. They are full of bravado in each other's company. You consider them united but their hearts are scattered wide. That is because they are people who do not use their intellect. (Surat al-Hashr, 13-14)