Reference: Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah v6 p214-215 q6
Question: There are those who exploit the religion for their own advantage, specifically during the Gulf conflict [of 1991]. So what is your advice regarding that?
Response: That which is obligatory upon all the Muslims is to fear Allaah, and to have sincerity [of worship] in Allaah, and not to do the actions of the hypocrites, whereby they exploit the religion according to their desires; this is how the hypocrite behaves. He turns to the religion when he has a need, and this is abhorred and not permissible. So the hypocrite is worse than the disbelievers, which is why Allaah, The Most High, says:
So that which is obligatory is to be firm upon the religion in adherence to Allaah and His Messenger, and not because of [some] worldly desires. From amongst the traits of the hypocrite is his being firm upon the religion and making this apparent [for all to see] for his worldly benefit and needs. And if his needs are satisfied, he rejects the religion, and this [action] has no basis in the religion because he is a hypocrite, and the hypocrite is worse than the disbelievers, and refuge is sought in Allaah [from this evil action], as He, The Most High, says:
…and He, The Most High, says:
And from their attributes [as] Allaah has mentioned them in His Great Book, in His statement:
So the “muthabthib” [one who is “sometimes here and sometimes there”] is the one who is undecisive – sometimes with the Muslims and sometimes with the disbelievers. And such a person is with the disbelievers if they are victorious and he finds therein [some] benefit [for himself] and sometimes [he is] with the Muslims if they are victorious and he finds therein [some] benefit [for himself].
So he is a “muthabthib”, void of any firmness [in his position] and void of any foresight, rather he is [always] with the one who triumphs and the one with whom he sees [for himself] some worldly benefit. So if he sees benefit [for himself] in being with the disbelievers, then he is with them (joins ranks with them), and if he sees benefit [for himself] in being with the Muslims, then he is with them (joins ranks with them). He is void of any [real] sincere goals and void of [any] firmness in [his] faith – this is the state of the hypocrite, we ask Allaah to protect us from evil and harm.
