Chapter: The Blameworthiness of the Two-Faced

Allah the Exalted says: “They try to hide from people, but they cannot hide from Allah, for He is with them when they spend the night plotting words He does not approve; and Allah fully encompasses all they do.”

1540 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “You will find that people are like mines of gold and silver: the best of them in the Age of Ignorance are the best of them in Islam once they gain understanding. You will also find that the best people with regard to this office are those who dislike it the most, and you will find that the worst of people is the two-faced one who goes to these with one face and to those with another.” Agreed upon.

1541 – Muhammad ibn Zayd related that some people said to his grandfather, ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr (may Allah be pleased with them), “We visit our rulers and say to them something different from what we say after we leave them.” He replied, “In the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) we used to consider that hypocrisy.” Reported by al-Bukhari.

[Explanation]
Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) states in Riyad al-Salihin, “Chapter: Censure of the Two-Faced.” A two-faced person is someone who shows one face to one group and another face to a different group, just as the hypocrites do; when they meet those who