The issue of two faced people, is one that has plagued or societies for ages. It’s become so common that many people not only see it as normal. They find ways to make excuses for it, so ask to make it sound like there is no problem with being described with this horrible attribute of being a two faced individual.
We know that as Muslims, we are supposed to take issues like this and just take what society has to say about them, nor what our own selves tell us about the situation. Rather, as Muslims, we are supposed to look at these issues in light of the Quran and the Sunnah, and take what is said in these two mighty sources, when we want to see the reality of them. We do not do like many others have done before us and be upon good when the people are upon good and be upon evil when the people are upon evil.
Regardless of the excuses that people give you for being two faced, and regardless of how wonderful they make it seem, it is a horrible characteristic to be labeled as having. Look at what the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said about the issue and how he defines someone that has two faces;
:عن أبي هريرة، أن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم-قال
“مِن شرِّ الناسِ ذُو الوجْهَينِ الذي يأتي هؤلاء بوجه وهؤلاء بوجهٍ”
رواه أبي داود
On the authority of Abu Hurairah, that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Surely the worst of the people is the two faced person, who comes with one group with one face and to others with another face.”
Reported by Abu Dawood
So as you see, this is a horrible characteristic for one to be said to have, regardless of how some people may look at it. Look at how the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) describes this person here in the above mentioned hadeeth. He says they are the worst of people. This is without a doubt a characteristic that we want to stay away from being described with. As well we want to make sure that we are not hanging around people that are described with this detestable attribute. We want to stay away from people, because our choice friends and companions say a lot about us not only to others, but as well we should take note of what our choices teach us about ourselves. Even if we do not realize it, we tend to be with those people who either we are very much like them, or we are very much pleased with how they are and love being in their company. Look at what the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was reported as saying about the lifestyle of our companions:
:عن أبي هريرة أن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال
“الرجُلُ على دِينِ خَليلِهِ، فلينظر أحدُكُم من يُخالِلُ”
رواه أبو داود
On the authority of Abu Hurairah, that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“The man is on the way of life of his close companion, so look closely at who you take as a close companion.”
Reported by Abu Dawood
So for your own sake you should not only make sure that this characteristic is not one that you are described with, but as well your friends and companions.
Speaking the truth is something that every Muslim should hold themselves responsible to do. When one can not be truthful in both their speech, as well as their actions, they should refrain from making any statement at all. The situation of a Muslim is not that they should be doing and saying what ever needs to be said or done for the purpose of being accepted, liked or looked at as someone respectable. Rather a Muslim should pride themselves in being of those that are about being honest, saying the truth and calling to the good and away from deceitfulness, lying and hypocrisy.
Without a doubt, as a Muslim, you have to use your hikmah (wisdom) as to what you do and say in front of the people. Sometime saying what you know to be the truth will cause evil to come about, so you refrain from saying it, or doing that action. This does not though, necessitate that you tell the truth or act in a truthful way to one party of people and be deceitful and lie to another party. Even worse is the situation of an individual that doesn’t tell the truth to any of the parties involved, rather they lie to all involved.
So in conclusion, being of those people that are said to be two faced, need to really look into themselves and see if this quality exists. If they find it does, than they need to do their best to remove it so that they can be free from this description that The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) described the two faced people as having, which was ‘the worst of the people’.
May Allah aide us in correcting our affairs and freeing ourselves from being of these people. Allahuma ameen.
