If I am exhorting my brothers
and I warn them against some sins, but I fall into these sins myself, am I
to be considered a hypocrite? Please advise me, may Allaah reward you with
good.
Praise be to Allaah.
You
have to repent from the sins and exhort your brothers against them. It is
not permissible for you to continue committing the sin and not to advise
your brothers, because by doing this you are combining two sins. You must
repent to Allaah from that, whilst also advising your brothers. This does
not make you a hypocrite, but it does place you in a category which is
condemned as blameworthy by Allaah in the aayaat (interpretation of the
meaning):
“Most
hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do”
[al-Saff 61:3]
“Enjoin
you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience
to Allaah) on the people and you forget (to practise it)
yourselves, while you recite the Scripture! Have you then no sense?”
[al-Baqarah 2:44]
