The Condemnation of Treachery in Hadith

Condemnation of Treachery in the Hadith

Shinawar Ghani Attari (5^th year student, Jamiat al-Madinah, Faizan Imam Ghazali, Faisalabad)

The prevalence of immorality and proliferation of evils has inundated minds, blinding them from seeing evil as evil. Treachery is one such vice which, despite being a grave sin and a hallmark of hypocrisy, is generally taken lightly.

Treachery is usually understood to be associated with financial trust in particular, i.e., when a person entrusts another with wealth but he refuses to return it, resultantly it is said he was treacherous. This is also treachery, but the definition of this found in sharīʿah has a larger spectrum.

Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes:

Treachery is not only committed in financial dealings but also occurs in confidentiality, honour, and words of advice.^[1] Treachery is the opposite of trustworthiness. To discreetly violate someone’s right is referred to as treachery, whether that is a personal right, the right of Allah and His Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the right of Islam, or the right of another. Allah says:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَخُوۡنُوا اللّٰہَ وَ الرَّسُوۡلَ وَ تَخُوۡنُوۡۤا اَمٰنٰتِکُمۡ وَ اَنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ (۲۷)

“O believers! Do not be dishonest to Allah and the Messenger, nor purposefully be dishonest in your trusts.”^[2]

Definition of treachery:

Treachery is to violate someone’s trust without the permission of Islam.^[3]

Ruling of treachery:

It is necessary (wājib) for every Muslim to be honest and truthful. It is haram to commit treachery, which is an act leading to Hellfire.^[4]

Just like the Quran, the hadith also condemn treachery of every type. Since it is a repugnant vice, it is therefore imperative for every Muslim to refrain from it. Here are 7 hadith of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم regarding treachery:

1. Hallmark of hypocrisy

He who has four defects is a complete hypocrite, and he who has one of these four will possess the defect of hypocrisy until he abandons it. One of them is that he betrays the trust given to him.^[5]

2. No religion:

He who is not trustworthy has no faith.^[6]

3. A believer cannot be treacherous:

A believer can adopt every habit, but he cannot be a liar or treacherous.^[7]

4. Moral treachery:

There are three such people who will not be questioned and will enter Hell without reckoning. One of them is the woman whose husband is not present with her and he fulfilled her worldly rights, yet, she committed treachery against him.^[8]

5. Avoid concealing the treacherous:

It should be kept in mind that it is important to refrain from concealing a treacherous person. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Whoever hides the treacherous is just like him.”^[9]

6. Treachery in giving advice:

Whoever advises his brother in any matter knowing the correct approach is found in other than what he tells him, has betrayed him.^[10]

7. Hiding the smallest thing is also treachery:

Whomsoever of you we appoint from you for a task and then proceeds to hide a needle or more than that from us, is also guilty of treachery he will bring forth on the Day of Judgement.^[11]

Causes of treachery:

There can be many reasons behind falling prey to this vile act, some of which are as follows:

1.   Ill intent

2.   Habit of being deceptive

3.   Bad company

4.   Lack of trust in Allah

5.   Habit of harming Muslims

6.   Fulfilment of carnal desires.

We pray to Allah that He grants us the ability to avoid treachery and to live our lives according to the commandments of Islam. اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّیْن صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

For more information about treachery and the remedies for the aforementioned causes, read Batini Bemarion Ki Malumat. You will attain a priceless treasure of sacred knowledge. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه