ﲭ ﲮ ﲯ ﲰ ﲱ ﲲ ﲳ ﲴ ﲵ ﲶ ﲷ ﲸ ﲹ ﲺ ﲻ ﲼ ﲽ ﲾ ﲿ
Except for those who repent, correct themselves, hold fast to Allah, and are sincere in their religion for Allah, for those will be with the believers. And Allah is going to give the believers a great reward.
Tafsir
Verse range: 4:145-146
"The lowest depth (al-darak al-asfal)" It is the layer at the bottom of Hell. The Fire has seven depths (darakāt), so named because they are stacked—one following another, one above the other. It has been recited with the rā quiescent (al-dark), though the vocalized form (al-darak) is the standard, as they say "the depths (adrāk) of Hell."
If you ask: Why is the hypocrite more severely punished than the disbeliever? I say: Because he is like the disbeliever in his disbelief, but he has added to his disbelief the mockery of Islam and its people, and the act of deceiving them.
"And they reform" They rectify what they corrupted of their secrets and their states during their time of hypocrisy.
"And hold fast to Allah" They place their trust in Him, just as the sincere believers trust Him.
"And make their religion sincere for Allah" They seek nothing through their obedience but His Countenance.
"Then those will be with the believers" They shall be the companions and associates of the believers in both abodes.
"And Allah will give the believers a great reward" They shall share in it and participate with them in it.
If you ask: Who is the hypocrite? I say: In the Sharia, he is the one who manifests faith while concealing disbelief. As for labeling one who commits acts of fisq (transgression) as a "hypocrite," it is for the sake of severity, like the saying: "Whoever abandons prayer intentionally has committed disbelief." (This was discussed in Surah al-Baqarah).
From this is the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "There are three traits, whoever possesses them is a hypocrite, even if he fasts, prays, and claims to be a Muslim: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays." (Authentic).
It was said to Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him): "Who is the hypocrite?" He replied: "The one who describes Islam but does not act upon it."
It was said to Ibn Umar: "We enter upon the ruler and speak words, but when we leave, we speak the opposite." He replied: "We used to count that as hypocrisy."
Al-Hasan said: "A time came upon hypocrisy when it was suppressed, but then it rose, spread, took power, and was given a sword"—meaning al-Hajjaj.
