Hypocrites’ Friendship with the Satan

Satan is the leader of the hypocrites

Satan is no doubt the most skillful and the most experienced hypocrite. Satan has never abandoned this twisted immorality since it was expelled from heaven. And it took an oath never to abandon hypocrisy, insincerity, deception, double-dealing and fraudulency until the Final Hour. Therefore, ‘the mentor to the hypocrite’ is the satan, who knows the ‘innermost intricacies of hypocrisy’. In the Qur’an, God points to the ‘alliance of hypocrites and satan,’ and reminds us that hypocrites told satan, ‘We are really with you. We were only mocking’ those who have faith.

When they meet those who have faith, they say, ‘We have faith.’ But then when they go apart with their satans, they say, ‘We are really with you. We were only mocking.’ (Surat al-Baqara, 14)

When the hypocrites are with Muslims they tell them "they love God and Muslims very much; and they hate all evil, profanity and the cruel, ruthless morals of the unbelievers." But when they encounter satan and satan’s friends amongst the unbelievers, they assume an attitude that tries to win satan's and the unbelievers' favor right away. In a verse in the Qur’an, God informs us that ‘hypocrites take satan, not God, as their friend’:

One group He guided; but another group got the misguidance they deserved. They took the satan as friend instead of God and thought that they were guided.(Surat al-A'raf, 30)

Therefore, ‘the leader of the hypocrites, their guide, guardian, helper, the one they trust and take shelter in, the one they believe to be powerful and follow is satan.’

In another verse, God reveals, "If someone shuts his eyes to the remembrance of the All-Merciful, We assign him to a satan who becomes his bosom friend." (Surat az-Zukhruf, 36) therefore God informs us that hypocrites are in a ‘close friendship with satan.’ Hypocrites, who turn away from God, the Qur’an and the Muslims, who deny the true revelation of God -surely God is above this-, now have become an inseparable whole with satan. When satan becomes the hypocrites' bosom friend; every irreligious ideology of satan and it sinister morals and methods also become imprinted on hypocrites' character. And after that, -unless they repent- hypocrites never abandon their close friend and submit their will to satan's guidance. This ‘evil alliance and close friendship of satan and hypocrites’ is also stated in another verse:

"... We have made the satans friends of those who have no faith.” (Surat al-A'raf, 27)

All of this information provided by the Qur’an indicates that, ‘the true leader of hypocrites is satan’ and ‘all treacherous methods of satan are also manifested in the character of the hypocrites’. Hypocrites follow the path satan shows them, and just like it, they too, maliciously endeavor to drag all of humanity into perversion.

For this reason, hypocrites who follow the footsteps of satan continue practicing their schemes and double-dealing at every opportunity they get. Just as satan never gets tired of lying, playing tricks and being insincere, hypocrites unrelentingly continue with their sneakiness, perfidy and treachery following the inspiration they take from satan.

A hypocrite is satan incarnate

Hypocrites are satan incarnate. In a verse, God informs, "Such people are the party of satan…" (Surat al-Mujadala, 19) Hypocrites are satan’s party out of humans. In the same verse God says, "No indeed! It is the party of satan who are the losers." Both satan and its party, the hypocrites, will ultimately be defeated.

In another verse, God describes how satan would come closer to those whom he will taint and distort. "Then I will come at them, from in front of them and behind them, from their right and from their left. You will not find most of them thankful.” (Surat al-A‘raf, 17) As an invisible being, satan can't -physically- approach people from behind, front, right or left. This sinister task is performed by its ‘manifestations in the human form, the hypocrites’.’ As satans in human form, hypocrites try to deviate people from the true path of God and prevent them from living in compliance with the moral values of the Qur’an and banding together with Muslims.

Hypocrites are the servants of satan in ‘human’ and ‘muslim’ disguise

Al-Ghawth Al-Azam Sheikh Abdul-Qadir Gilani once described hypocrites to the Muslims in this way:

"Hypocrites are the servants of satan in human and Muslim disguise. They can only be recognized with insight from the Qur’an, foresight of faith, and guidance from the prophets. The real accomplishment does not lie in recognizing the believer or unbeliever, but the hypocrite, and exposing them to the public and warning them about these sick, detrimental people who have many subordinates and protectors among the community." (El-Fethu’r Rabbânî ve’l Feyzu’r Rahmânî - 61st Conversation)

Hazrat Abdul-Qadir Gilani, in these words, made it clear that ‘hypocrites are both satan incarnate’ and ‘servants of satan in Muslim disguise’. With this sinister method, hypocrites can infiltrate the places satan desires to reach with ease, and once there, they can do and speak everything satan wants on its behalf. Thus, hypocrites are more advantageous in this insidious struggle against Islam. Satan may only have an affect on the minds of people, while hypocrites can physically intervene, too. Not only do they try to influence people by whispering into their minds like satan, but also they can try to actively influence people with their way of speaking and behavior.

In that sense, hypocrites are ‘poisonous beings.’ However, the fact that hypocrites ‘hide by disguising themselves as Muslims’ is a more substantial threat. Generally, the characteristics of unbelievers are similar to hypocrites, but they openly state that they have no faith and thus reveal their true nature. However, recognizing and identifying hypocrites is difficult, because they are very sinister, two-faced impostors. They are specifically created with this evil and malignant personification. As Hazrat Abdul-Qadir Gilani explained, in order to designate a hypocrite, one needs ‘insight from the Qur’an, foresight of faith, and guidance from the prophets’. Meaning that only those Muslims with sincere faith, wisdom, foresight and insight can identify the despicable character of a hypocrite.

Hypocrites receive orders directly from satan while they slyly cooperate with Unbelievers

Hypocrites stand out among Muslims with their cranky and nonchalant attitude towards Islam. They are extremely reluctant and indisposed to following the commandments of God, living in accordance with the moral values of the Qur’an and serving Islam. On the other hand, they immediately carry out the orders of satan with great enthusiasm. When satan induces them to cooperate with its friends, without hesitation, they contact unbelievers. In a verse, God reveals the fact that every sly whisper and sinister scheme hypocrites plan with unbelievers actually originates from satan, meaning they do it ‘under orders from satan’:

Conferring in secret is from satan, to cause grief to those who have faith; but it cannot harm them at all, unless by God’s permission. So let the believers put their trust in God. (Surat al-Mujadala, 10)

In another verse, God informs us that in hell, satan says: "I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you responded to me." to the hypocrites who followed it in this world. This too shows us that ‘hypocrites are actually acting under the influence and instructions of satan’:

When the affair is decided satan will say: ‘God made you a promise, a promise of truth, and I made you a promise but broke my promise. I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you responded to me. Do not, therefore, blame me but blame yourselves. I cannot come to your aid nor you to mine. I reject the way you associated me with God before.’ The wrongdoers will have a painful punishment. (Surah Abraham, 22)

By secretly communicating with unbelievers and banding together with them against Muslims, hypocrites think they can harm those who have faith. However, they are unaware of the infinite power and command God has over everything. In the last part of the verse above (Surat al-Mujadala, 10), God informs us that -unless by God's permission- ‘hypocrites cannot harm Muslims at all.’