Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan acquaints us with the signs of a hypocrite and how one should be wary of them.
Allah (SWT) tells us in the Quran, “The hypocrites, they are in the lowest pit of Hellfire.”The lower the hellfire gets, the tougher it gets. The lowest pit possible in Hellfire is reserved for al-Munaafiqoon—the hypocrites. Allah tells His Messenger ﷺ twice in the Quran: It is all the same for them whether you ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them; never will Allah forgive them. (Quran; Surah al-Munaafiqoon, ayah 6)
These people have reached a point of no return in their hypocrisy. It would be the same for them whether you made istighfar for them or you didn’t make istighfar for them. It means that Allah is telling His Messenger ﷺ that if you ask Allah to forgive them or you never asked, it wouldn’t make a difference. Allah wouldn’t forgive the hypocrites.
It is also mentioned in the Quran Allah says, “If you should ask forgiveness for them seventy times - never will Allah forgive them.” (Quran; Surah at-Tawbah, ayah 80)
Among the numerous signs of a hypocrite are:
Whenever he speaks, he lies.
When he is argued/ debated/ disagreed with, he explodes.
Whenever he is entrusted with something, he violates that trust.
He makes a promise; he goes back on his promise.
They don’t spend except that they regret it.
They don’t even come to the prayer except that they are lazy.