enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, they sneer: “These are zealots, these are extremists, these are fundamentalists, these are backward,” and similar slurs.

All of this is inherited from the hypocrites of the Prophet’s time—peace and blessings be upon him—right up to our own day. Do not say, “We have no hypocrites.” We certainly do, and they bear many unmistakable signs!

Ibn al-Qayyim—may Allah have mercy on him—lists in the first volume of Madārij al-Sālikīn many traits of the hypocrites, all of them set out in the Book of Allah: “This one is a fanatic,” “That one is miserly—Allah has no need of his charity,” and the like. If you see a man constantly sniping at the believers from every side, know that he is a hypocrite—Allah’s refuge is sought—

“Those who taunt the generous believers about their charities, and those who can find nothing to give except their effort, so they mock them; Allah will mock them, and for them is a painful punishment” (al-Tawbah 9:79).

“Those who taunt the generous believers about their charities, and those who can find nothing to give except their effort, so they mock them; Allah will mock them, and for them is a painful punishment” (al-Tawbah 9:79).

“Those who taunt the generous believers about their charities, and those who can find nothing to give except their effort, so they mock them; Allah will mock them, and for them is a painful punishment” (al-Tawbah 9:79).

From the hadith we draw two great lessons:

1. A person should not lag behind when an opportunity for good presents itself; rather, he must step forward without hesitation or laziness.

I recall a hadith in which the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—spoke about those who come to the mosque yet do not advance to the first row, preferring to remain at the back. He said, “A people will keep holding back until Allah holds them back…”