22- PERFIDY (HIYANAT)

The twenty-second malady of the heart is "Hiyanat". Doing "Hiyanat" causes anger (Ghadab). "Hiyanat" is also forbidden (Haram) and it is a sign of hypocrisy. The opposite of "Hiyanat" is being trustworthy (Amanat). The meaning of "Hiyanat" is the following: One who portrays himself to others as trustworthy and then uses this impression to deceive them. The definition of a believer (Mumin) is such that others can place their trust in him with respect to their properties or lives. "Amanat" and "Hiyanat" may occur with respect to properties as well as with respect to spoken words. In a hadith Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "A person who is consulted is trustworthy." This hadith describes attributes of a person whom others discuss their problems with. For example, this person should speak the truth when he is asked and he should keep secrets of the discussion from others. Those who discuss their matters with him believe him to be a trustworthy person. It is necessary (Wajib) for him to tell the truth. A person may place his property with another whom he trusts. Similarly, one may consult with another whom he is sure will tell him the truth. The 159th verse in the chapter "Al-i Imran" of the Holy Qur'an states, "Consult with others beforehand the things you are planning to do." Consulting with others is like a fortress which protects one from regret. The person whom one wants to consult should know the state of human beings of his time as well as the state and conditions of the country and the time. This is called knowledge of politics and administration (Ilm al-siyasat). Furthermore, he should be a far sighted and wise person as well as a healthy one. It is a sin for him to say something which he does not know or to say something contrary to his knowledge. If he says these things by mistake, it would not be a sin for him. If one consults with a person who does not possess the above-mentioned attributes and qualities, both parties would be committing sin. Those who give religious judgment (Fatwa) with respect to worldly as well as other worldly matters without having proper credentials would be cursed by the angels. If one orders something while knowing that carrying out that order would be harmful, he would be committing "Hiyanat".

[It is written in the famous religious book Hadika that Abdullah ibn al-Mas'ud, may Allahu ta'ala be well pleased with him, said, "The first thing you will lose from your religion would be being trustworthy 'Amanat'. The last thing you will lose would be the 'salat' prayer. There will be some people who will be praying 'salats' while indeed they would not even have any religion." In one hadith, Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "Anyone who kills his friend is not one of my followers 'Ummat'. This is true even if the dead person is a disbeliever."]