No Double Standards

Contradiction between words and deeds is the mark of a hypocrite. A sincere person has no double standards. His thinking and character are governed by divine principles.

The Quran says that God has not placed two hearts in any man’s body (33:4). This means that God does not want a person to adopt double standards, whatever be the issue. God’s does not show His mercy to people with double standards. The true human being is one who speaks as he acts, and who acts as he speaks. Saying something and then doing something else is not the way of a believer.

Another name for having double standards is being a hypocrite. Such a person hides his real personality. He utters such words to please people as are totally lacking in sincerity. To gain popularity with people, he makes such speeches on stage as bear little relation to the truth. Such a human being is a pretender rather than a true worshipper of God.

The difference between a hypocrite and a sincere person is that a hypocrite is one thing within and something else outside, whereas an honest, genuine person is the same within and without. A hypocrite’s purpose is to please people, whereas a sincere person’s purpose is to please God.

Contradiction between words and deeds is the mark of a hypocrite because he keeps changing his words and deeds with each change of circumstance. But there is no contradiction to be found in a sincere person, because a sincere person’s thinking and character are governed by eternal divine principles, and divine principles are immutable.

In this world a sincere person is one desired by God. He is the person who will be held deserving of God’s eternal mercy.