World Faiths – Hypocrisy | The Review of Religions

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The hypocrites, men and women, are all connected one with another. They enjoin evil and forbid good, and keep their hands closed. They neglected Allah, so He has neglected them. Surely, it is the hypocrites who are the disobedient.

Islam, the Holy Qur’an, 9:67

Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up: whenever he is entrusted, he betrays; whenever he speaks, he tells a lie; whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous, whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner.

Islam, Saying of the Holy Prophet (sa), Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 34

Be not afraid of the curses of the world, for they shall vanish before your eyes like smoke and cannot turn day into night. Fear instead the curse of God which descends from heaven and uproots its victims in both worlds. You cannot save yourselves with hypocrisy, for your God is He Who sees the innermost depth of man. Can you then deceive Him? So become straightforward, clean, pure and truthful.

Islam, Saying of the Promised Messiah (as), Noah’s Ark, P.20

Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others… But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Christianity, The Bible, Matthew 6:1-4

Some go to bathe at holy places with hearts impure and faculties false.

As one part of impurity they wash, twice more freshly stick to them. They washed themselves outside;

Inside they are full of deadly poison.

The pure in soul are pure even without ritual bathing;

The wicked will be wicked in all ritual performances.

Sikhism, Adi Granth Sahib, Var Suhi

Many are the gurus who rob the disciple of his wealth; but rare is the guru who removes the disciple’s afflictions. Many are they who are given to the discipline and conduct according to caste, stage, and family; but he who is devoid of all volition is a guru rare to find.

Buddhism, Samyutta Nikaya LVI.11: Setting in Motion The Wheel of Truth