[JonnTEN]

I was reading the commentary of Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali of the arba'in: http://www.almeshkat.net/books/open.php?cat=8&book=74 (see part 4)

He mentions two types of hypocrisy, and the "small" one is not kufr:

والثاني : النفاق الأصغر ، وهو نفاق العمل ((2)) ، وهو أنْ يُظهر الإنسانُ علانيةً
صالحةً ، ويُبطن ما يُخالف ذلك .
وأصولُ هذا النفاق ترجع إلى الخصال المذكورة في هذه الأحاديث ، وهي خمسة
...
قال الحسنُ : كان يقال : النفاقُ اختلاف السِّرِّ والعلانية ، والقول
والعمل ، والمدخل والمخرج ، وكان يقالُ : أُسُّ النفاق الذي بني عليه النفاق
...
وسُئل حذيفة عن المنافق ، فقال : الذي يصف الإيمان ولا يعمل به

Some parts where elsewhere translated:

Nifaaq (hypocrisy) in the Arabic language means the general category of deception, scheming and presenting an outward appearance of good while concealing its opposite.


In the Sharee'ah, nifaaq is of two types:


Greater (An-Nifaaq Al-Akbar): To present an outward appearance of belief in Allaah, His Angels, His books, His messengers, the last day, etc. while concealing withing that which negates all or some of that. This is the hypocrisy which the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) confronted during his life and the ones who Allaah said in the Qur'aan that they are in "the lowest depth of hell-fire".

Lesser (An-Nifaaq Al-Asghar) or hypocrisy of action: To present an outward appearance of good and good deeds while concealing within that which negates that. This form of hypocrisy is built on the 5 things mentioned in the hadeeth at hand.

The actions in this hadeeth are all part of lesser hypocrisy. One who has these character traits in interaction with other people is most likely to have them with regard to Allaah and His Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam). That is why the existence of them is a 'sign' of the existence of greater nifaaq.

Lying. Al-Hasan Al-Basree said:

"Nifaaq is the difference between the inner and the appearance, between statement and action and between entering and leaving and it used to be said that the foundation of nifaaq upon which it is built is lying."

Ibn Umar was told:

"We enter the presence of the ruler we speak to him other than what we say after we leave." Ibn Umar said: "We used to consider that hypocrisy." [Bukhaaree] So my question is: these statements are quite clear that if you commit sins while you are talking about Imaan, it can be called hypocrisy. Like Hasan said that hypocrisy is the difference between statement and action?

Or is the part وهو نفاق العمل ((2)) ، وهو أنْ يُظهر الإنسانُ علانيةً صالحةً ، ويُبطن ما يُخالف ذلك referring to openly committing good deeds, while having the intention of riya? Since ذلك must refer to علانيةً صالحةً it would be referring to one act, while you are concealing something from that particular act i.e. show off?

Any comments are appreciated.