SINCERITY AND
DOUBLE STANDARDS

A true human being is one who lives by principles—someone whose words align with their actions, and whose actions reflect their words. There is no contradiction between what they say and what they do.

Morally, people can be divided into two categories: the sincere (mukhlis) and the person with double standards (munafiq).

The sincere person finds success both in this world and in the Hereafter. The person with double standards, on the other hand, faces disgrace in both realms.

A sincere person is serious and thoughtful. They recognize the truth when they see it. They follow a clear and well-considered principle and base all their decisions on it. Every part of their life reflects their inner values. You can predict how such a person will act in any situation because they remain consistent in following their principles.

A sincere person may say “no,” but they will never deceive. They may be firm, but they will not lie. They may oppose but never resort to meanness. They may hesitate to make promises, but if they do, they will certainly fulfill them. They may be cautious in committing, but once committed, they will never go back on their word.

The person with double standards is the complete opposite. Their behaviour is inconsistent and unreliable. They say one thing and do another. They make promises they never intend to keep. Their speech may be polished and impressive, but their character is hollow.

Such a person does not live by principles—they are driven by convenience and self-interest. They say only what pleases others. At every step, they calculate their personal gain. They act only where there is something in it for them and remain passive where there is none.

The sincere person is truly human; the person with double standards, in essence, has abandoned their humanity.