"And the hadith has come to you through four (types of people) only...

"And the hadith has come to you through four (types of people) only; there is no fifth. "[First]: A hypocrite, who adopts the appearance of Islam, and makes a show of faith; he does not hesitate in sinning and does not restrain himself from willfully attributing false things against the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace from Allah be on him and his progeny). If people knew that he was a hypocrite and a liar, they would not accept anything from him and would not confirm what he says.

But they say: ' This is a companion of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace from Allah be on him and his progeny), he has seen him and heard (his sayings) from him.' They therefore accept what he says, because they do not know his reality. Allah had indeed informed (the people) regarding the hypocrites clearly, and fully described them.

He, the Mighty, the Great, has said: And when you see them, their bodies will please you, and if they speak, you will be captivated by their speech; (they are) as if they were propped up timbers. (al-Munafiqun 63 :4) After (the Prophet), they sought positions with the leaders of misguidance and the callers towards the Fire, through falsehoods and slanderings. So they put them in (high) posts and imposed them on the people, and they devoured the world (i.e. wealth) through them.

And people are always with the rulers and after this world, except those to whom Allah affords protection. This is the first of the four (categories).

"[Second]: Then there is the individual who heard (something), from the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace from Allah be on him and his progeny), but did not memorise it as it was, and surmised it; he does not knowingly attribute the falsehood to the Prophet; that (imaginary saying) is in his hand, he acts upon it and narrates it and claims 'I have heard it from the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be on him and his progeny).

' If the Muslims come to know that he has committed a mistake in it, they will not accept it from him, and if he himself knew that he was on the wrong, he would give it up. "[Third]: The third man is he who heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace from Allah be on him and his progeny) ordering to do a thing, and later the Prophet forbade doing it (but this man did not know it); or, he heard the Prophet forbidding a thing and later he allowed it, but this man did not know it.