The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up.
1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays.
2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous.
4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner."
Exposition of the Hadith
This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (34) in the Book of Belief addresses the grave matter of hypocrisy (nifāq), which is of two types: major hypocrisy that removes one from the fold of Islam, and minor hypocrisy that constitutes sinful characteristics. The Prophet (ﷺ) here delineates the traits of the latter.
Scholarly Commentary on the Four Traits
1. Betrayal of Trust (Khiyānat al-Amānah): The believer is the one who is trustworthy. To be entrusted with something—wealth, secrets, or responsibilities—and then to betray that trust is a characteristic diametrically opposed to the quality of faith (īmān). It indicates a weakness in one's religious commitment.
2. Lying in Speech (al-Kadhib fī al-Hadīth): The tongue is a profound trust from Allah. The believer speaks truthfully, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. Lying, however, is a sign of hypocrisy, as the hypocrite's inner state contradicts his outward speech.
3. Treachery in Covenants (al-Khadhīl fī al-Wa'd): When a Muslim makes a promise or a covenant—be it with Allah or with people—he must fulfill it. Breaking covenants is a trait of the hypocrites, who show agreement outwardly while planning betrayal inwardly.
4. Immoderation in Dispute (al-Fujūr fī al-Khuṣūm): When quarreling, the believer is commanded to be just and to fear Allah, even against his own soul. The hypocrite, however, abandons all moral restraints, resorting to evil speech, falsehood, and insult, showing no concern for the boundaries set by the Sacred Law.
The Distinction Between Major and Minor Hypocrisy
It is crucial to understand that possessing one of these traits does not render a person a disbelieving hypocrite (munāfiq). Rather, it means he has shared in a characteristic of their behavior. This is a severe warning to purify one's character. The phrase "unless and until he gives it up" indicates that these are remediable sins through sincere repentance (tawbah) and returning to the way of the believers.