Reference: Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., – Volume 12, Page 268, Question 2 of Fatwa No.16920
Question: If I exhort my brothers and warn them against some sins, but fall into these sins myself, am I considered a hypocrite? Please advise me, [and] may Allaah reward you with good.
Response: It is obligatory upon you to repent from the sins and exhort your brothers against them. And it is not permissible for you to continue [committing] sins and not advise your brothers, because [doing] this is combining two sins. So it is upon you to repent to Allaah from that, in addition to advising your brothers. This does not make you a hypocrite, however, it does place you in that [state] which is condemned as blameworthy by Allaah in His (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) saying:
{Most hateful it is with Allaah that you say that which you do not do}, [Soorah as-Saff, Aayah 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?}, [Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 44]
And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his family and his companions.
