(فَأَعْقَبَهُمْ نِفَاقًا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يَلْقَوْنَهُ…) (So, as a consequence, He puts hypocrisy in their hearts until the Day they will meet Him,): Allah (swt) set the consequences of this hypocritical behavior in their hearts until the Day of Judgment. On that day, the secrets that they have concealed will be exposed because the hypocrite is a consistent liar. One of the most prominent characteristics of hypocrisy is lying, which is blameworthy.
Allah (swt) orders us to be faithful:

  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ 

(O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.) (At-Tawbah: 119)

As truthfulness is a mark of faith, therefore, after believing in Allah (swt) and His signs, it is necessary to be truthful. Many Hadiths emphasize the importance of truthfulness. He (saws) said:

“Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar.”[1]

So, truthfulness is one of the signs of true faith of a believer. Abu Ad-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (saws): “Oh Messenger of Allah, may a believer steal?” He (saws) said: “That might happen.” Abu Ad-Darda then asked, “Would a believer commit adultery?” The Prophet (saws) replied: “Yes, even though Abu Ad-Darda dislikes it.” Abu Ad-Darda further inquired: “Would a believer tell lies?” The Prophet (saws) responded: “Verily, no one fabricates lies except the one who disbelieves. Indeed, a believer may commit a sin, but he feels remorseful and repents to Allah, and Allah accepts his repentance.”[2]

This Hadiths and many others confirm that the believer is truthful, while the hypocrite is a liar who fabricates what he says. He tries to prove himself in society through his hypocrisy and lies. One might ask: Why does a person use hypocrisy? The answer is to achieve gains and self-interests. He shows something contrary to what he conceals, leading to a significant dysfunction in human societies. Certainly, confronting hypocrisy cannot be accomplished through the rulings; one cannot be arrested for being a hypocrite. This is a matter related only to religious values and conscience.

 

[1] Sahih al-Bukhari: The Book of Manners, Chapter: The Words of Allah: (O you who have believed, fear Allah and br among the sincere.)(At-Tawbah), Hadith no. 5743.

[2] Kanzul ‘Ummal, Vol no. 3, Pg 874, Hadith no. 8994