“And there are people who say, 'We believe in God and the Last Day,' while they do not really believe. They would deceive God and those who have attained faith, but they deceive nobody but themselves, and perceive it not. In their hearts is disease, and so God lets their disease increase. Grievous suffering awaits them because of their persistent lying" (Quran 2:8-10).
People who act like they believe, but secretly harbor doubts and dissent, may think that they are fooling those around them. They are almost worse than outright unbelievers, and the Quran lumps them together with those who disbelieve. Allah knows the secrets of all hearts, and calls out hypocrites for who they truly are, in a chapter called "The Hypocrites" (Chapter 63):
"When the hypocrites come to you, they say, 'We bear witness that you are indeed God's Apostle!' But Allah knows that you are His Apostle, and He bears witness that the hypocrites are indeed false in their declaration of faith" (Quran 63:1).
The Prophet Muhammad once warned his followers about the signs of a hypocrite:
- Whenever he is entrusted with something, he betrays that trust.
- Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
- Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous.
- Whenever he argues, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner.”
The act of lying to people about their so-called faith condemns hypocrites to the deepest levels of Hell-fire:
"Truly, the hypocrites shall be in the lowest depth of the fire, and they will find none who could help them" (Quran 4:145).