A person must not be hypocrite, evil and wicked because such a person has very few chances to change himself. On the other hand, if a person is bad only exoterically then he may find the straight path at any stage of his life as his inward is not evil. Only sanctified inward is blessed with Divine vision and gnosis because it remains attached with the spiritual guide consistently with the belief that Allah will bless any moment.  Hundreds of scholars performed excessive devotions in mosques for gnosis but failed. As soon as love penetrated their inwards, they left the mosques and prostrated at the door of Mystic (perfect spiritual guide).