Are there hypocrites from among callers to Islam?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

There are two types of hypocrisy. The first is major hypocrisy, which takes a Muslim outside Islam. This type of hypocrisy is related to beliefs and inner convictions. This is when a person appears to be a Muslim while, in his heart, he actually disbelieves. This person is indeed a disbeliever, even if he fasts, prays and behaves as a Muslim.

The second type is minor hypocrisy, which does not take a Muslim outside the fold of Islam; this is also called practical hypocrisy. Referring to this type of hypocrisy, it was reported on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar and his father, that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that a person who has the following four traits is a pure hypocrite, and a person who has one of them is deemed as having an aspect of hypocrisy until he stops it. The four traits are: when he is trusted, he betrays; when he speaks, he tells a lie, when he makes a promise, he does not keep it, and when he enters into a dispute, he acts unfairly. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Through induction and observation, callers to Allaah The Exalted are the least likely to have any of these traits, although the first type of hypocrisy is internal and only Allaah knows of its presence. Referring to this, it was reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, warned against investigating the intentions of other people. Instead, he commanded Muslims to deal with other Muslims according to what they appear to be. [Muslim] Likewise, it was reported on the authority of ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab that he advised a Muslim to deal with others according to what they appear to be. He explained this saying that if a person appears to be righteous, Muslims should trust him and be kind to him, and if a person appears to be unrighteous, Muslims should neither trust nor believe him, even if he claims that his inner intentions are good. [Al-Bukhari]

According to the aforementioned citations, people are to be judged according to how they appear. As for callers to Islam, then they appear to be free from the traits of hypocrisy. However, they are fallible with regards to hypocritical traits or any other shortcoming. On the other hand, for some reason, they may be infiltrated by malicious schemers. It is also possible that some callers to Islam may give in to their human weaknesses and personal desires.

Another question worth asking is why would a caller to Islam,  at the time when Islam and everything related to it is being fiercely fought, be a hypocrite and pretend to be something he is not?  What would a caller get in return for pretending to be righteous these days when dissolute persons, secularists and traitors are  honored, cherished and all their needs are provided for? Conversely, callers to Islam in most countries are harassed, persecuted and displaced. Why then would they be hypocrites and utter with their mouths what is not in their hearts?

In fact, the traits of the hypocrites are apparent in people other than callers to Islam. Callers to Islam are knowledgeable in the Sharee'ah sciences and speak according to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Thus, of all people, they are the least likely to have the traits of hypocrisy. This is our opinion and Allaah is the Observer of each one, and He purifies and exalts whomever He wills. It was reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that trustworthy persons from among every generation are those who have knowledge about this religion and who defend it against its enemies. [Al-Bayhaqi, Al-Albaani: Saheeh (Authentic) ]

To sum up, questioning callers to Islam and accusing them of hypocrisy is one of the weapons that have been used by the enemies of Islam, both in the past and now. Therefore, a Muslim should neither believe in this nor be deceived. Rather, a Muslim must work for his religion and for the benefit of his nation, and treat others according to how they appear, since Allaah alone judges their inner motives.

Allaah Knows best.