Check our new online courses here; or see the details below.
Bismillāh.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِي قَلْبِهِ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ الْخِصَامِ
Among the people is he whose talk in the worldly life pleases you, and he holds Allah witness to what is in his heart, though he is the staunchest of enemies.
(Sūrat Al-Baqarah, No.2, Āyat 204)
This verse talks about a certain type of character. The talk of this person is delightful and gives pleasure. But the pleasure is related to this worldly life which relies on external appearances. The inner thoughts of the person are hidden from others and are not revealed in his talk. Although speech does reveal some of the inner state of the person speaking, it does not reveal everything. Much can be disguised and hidden from the listener.
The person described claims to be speaking for the truth. He seems keen to do good and serve God and religion. To show his sincerity he calls upon Allah to witness what is in his heart. Such is his portrayal of his closeness to the truth. But Allah knows the truth inside him and declares that he is one of the most stubborn enemies of the truth.
The person says one thing but feels something completely different. He has a lot of hatred for the truth and yet uses sweet rhetoric to deceive people. This discrepancy is the essence of hypocrisy. The hypocrite is described as one whose inward reality differs from his outward appearance.
Hypocrites have always been a big obstacle to the progress of Muslim society. They were one of the main enemies for the early Muslims, mentioned repeatedly in the Qur’an. They did not accept the truth although outwardly they professed to do so. An example is Abū Sufyān. Although he claimed to have accepted Islam, his hatred of Islam never went away. During the time of the third caliph ‘Uthmān, Abū Sufyān is reported to have openly confessed his disbelief. It is narrated that during that time he once passed by the grave of Hamza, the uncle of the Prophet (s). He kicked Hamza’s grave and said: “Oh Abū ‛Amārah (Hamza’s nickname)! The very matter over which we drew swords yesterday is now in the hands of our youth. They play with it [like they play with a ball].”
Hypocrites deal a huge blow to the unity and strength of the Ummah today. Muslim leaders who claim to be acting for religion, often stab Muslims in the back. They work with the enemies of Islam to weaken Islam. This type of hypocrisy can be seen in political, social and ideological aspects of modern society.
The threat of hypocrisy is very real. As believers we must be aware of it and not be deluded by sweet words. We must also make sure there is no trace of hypocrisy in our own hearts. A good test of hypocrisy is the hadīth of the Prophet (s) which describes this deadly disease. He says; Three traits, whoever possesses them is a hypocrite, even though he fasts and offers prayers and claims that he is a Muslim: When he is trusted, he is dishonest, when he talks, he lies, and when he makes a promise, he breaks it (Al‑Kulayni, al-Kāfī, vol.2, p. 290, hadith # 8). May the Almighty protect us from this disease.
Sources: Allāmah Muhammad Husayn Tabātabā’ī, Tafsīr al-Mīzān; Ayatullāh Ja’far Subhānī, Hypocrites: A Commentary on Surah al-Munafiqun
ALI 703: Lessons from the Timeless Event of Karbala
The movement of Imam al-Husayn (ʿa) offers timeless lessons in akhlāq, guiding us to higher spiritual and ethical heights. In this webinar we will reflect on Sayyidah Zaynab (ʿa)’s contributions to this sacred legacy — focusing on the theme of Fervor and Honor (Ghayrah) with insights from the Qur’an and the Ahadith of the Maʿsūmīn (ʿa).
Schedule: Sunday, Oct 26, 2025
Timings: 1:30 pm to 3 pm in Toronto/NY; 10:30 am to 12pm LA/Vancouver
Instructor: Syed Ali Kazmi
Fees: CAD $10.00
ALI 707: Quranic Arabic and Knowledge – Level 2
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a) has said: Learn Arabic, for it is the word of Allah with which He speaks to His creation [in the Holy Quran]. In this online course, specially tailored for past and present Madrasah teachers, we will discuss simple Quranic vocabulary and grammar. To make it interesting, occasionally we will cover short stories and historical events in the Quran and their application in our daily lives. In this level, we will identify nouns and their different forms, a few verbs, and particles from Surahs Numbers 108 to 114 of the Quran.
Scholars on learning Quranic Arabic
Eligibility: All past and present Madrasah teachers are welcome to join this course, including those who were unable to register for Level 1. Most of the material from Level 1 will be revised in Level 2, and the recordings for Level 1 are available at: www.academyofislam.com/ali-702/.
Schedule: 6 Wednesdays, Sep 24 to October 29, 2025
Timings: 4:45-5:45 pm in LA/Vancouver, 7:45pm – 8:45 pm in NY/Toronto
Instructor: Sh Hasanayn Kassamali
Fees: CAD $50.00
Attendance and Homework: This course is designed for those who are serious about learning Quranic Arabic by attending all live sessions, participating actively in class, and completing homework assignments. Homework will be shared with classmates for feedback and discussion.
Registration for all courses: www.academyofislam.com/registration/