The hypocrite is like a ewe which goes to and fro between two flocks: going once to one an…

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Hadith narrated by Narrated by Muslim

Authenticity grade : Authentic

Updated on 24 September 2026 at 12:34 AM

📖 1 min read

Hadith text: The hypocrite is like a ewe which goes to and fro betwe…

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنهما عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: «مَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ، كَمَثَلِ الشَّاةِ الْعَائِرَةِ بَيْنَ الْغَنَمَيْنِ تَعِيرُ إِلَى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً وَإِلَى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً».

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The hypocrite is like a ewe which goes to and fro between two flocks: going once to one and another time to the other."

Explanation of the hadith: The hypocrite is like a ewe which goes to and fro betwe…

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) demonstrated the condition of the hypocrite and likened him to a hesitant ewe that does not know which one of the two flocks of sheep it should follow. It goes to one flock one time and to the other flock another time. Hypocrites are confused between belief and disbelief. They are not with the believers inwardly and outwardly, neither are they with the disbelievers inwardly and outwardly.

Rather, they are outwardly with the believers and inwardly in doubt and hesitation. They incline to the believers at times and to the disbelievers at other times.

Lessons: The hypocrite is like a ewe which goes to and fro betwe…

Categories : Hypocrisy

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