Roots and Types of Treachery
Treachery is among behaviors that undermine the foundation of the society and in religious sources, people have been warned against it. Treachery is undermining and damaging one’s trust.
One of the root causes of treachery is Nafs Ammarah (the inciting self). Nafs Ammarah causes one not to use his intellect and he therefore makes mistakes and commits sins.
Prophet Joseph (AS) referred to Nafs Ammarah as the reason behind what Zuleikha did. “Yet I do not consider my soul was innocent, surely the soul incites to evil except to whom my Lord has mercy; indeed, my Lord is Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” (Verse 53 of Surah Yusuf)
Another root cause of treachery is Shirk (polytheism) and lack of faith in God’s power. Those who are weak in faith sometimes commit treachery because they imagine that otherwise they will fall behind others and their interests will not be served.
According to the Quran, treachery can be of different types:
1- Betrayal of God and Prophet (PBUH): A verse in the Quran has banned betraying God and the Holy Prophet (PBUH): “Believers, do not betray Allah and the Messenger, nor knowingly betray things entrusted to you.” (Verse 27 of Surah Al-Anfal)
2- Betrayal of people: In this very verse, God has also ordered us to be very careful about the things entrusted to you.
According to a Hadith from the Holy Prophet (PBUH), there are four things that if one of them enters a house or a society, that house or society will not receive divine blessings. And those four things are treachery, theft, drinking wine and adultery.
One of the remedies for this moral disease (treachery) is to strengthen one's faith.
One must also reflect on the results of treachery, which would make him realize that he must avoid it.
