One Hundred And Fifty Lessons For Life

Lesson Twenty Eight: Signs of a Hypocrite

Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) said:

Luqman said to his son:

"لِمُنافِقِ ثَلاثُ عَلامات: يُخَالِفُ لِسانُهُ قَلْبَهُ وَ قَلْبُهُ فِعْلَهُ وَ عَلانِيَتُهُ سَرِيْرَتَهُ"

Translation

There are three signs of the hypocrites : their tongue is not consistent with their heart, nor their heart with their deed , nor their outward with their inward.[^1]

Brief Description

Hypocrisy is a painful , loathsome trait originating from low personality and weak will. To make themselves look better than they are , their tongues will tell a different story from what is in their hearts, they will not walk their talk, will not practice what they preach. They are a weak people , afraid to reveal their true selves , lacking the will and determination to improve themselves. They appear in different garbs and are treacherous with everybody, even themselves. Even more dangerous are the societies that display a good looking exterior but have bad, rotting , interior. Their tongue and the mass media, is in stark contrast with what is going on in the heart of these societies.

[^1]: Bihar al-Anwar book, volume 15