The Definition of a Munafiq

Question

(1) Someone says of the Qur’anic texts concerning the hypocrites that the hypocrites about whom these texts speak no longer exist, and therefore these texts are no longer acted upon nor used as evidence. To what extent is this justified in the Sacred Law? (2) What is the Sacred definition of a munafiq? And if hypocrites exist in our time, from which texts can evidence be drawn concerning them?

Answer

(1) Such hypocrites exist even now; yet after the cessation of revelation it is difficult to pass the ruling that someone is a munafiq. (2) One whose inner self holds kufr while his outer self shows Islam is a munafiq. But to determine who exactly is such is not within our power.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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