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Truthfulness

4-04-2018

Truthfulness is very closely related to trustworthiness and can perhaps be regarded as its twin quality. Like trustworthiness, it was also the second distinguishing feature of our Prophet (PBUH) as he was called As-Sadiq (the truthful) for his immaculate truthfulness. Like trustworthiness, it is intertwined with Islamic faith (Eman). It is inconceivable that a believer (Muslim) will not be truthful, or that a liar can be a believer.

In terms of graveness and abomination, the Holy Quran equates telling lies to worshiping idols. In Soorah Hajj, it says:

“Keep away from the filth of the idols and keep away from telling lies, dedicating yourselves purely and uprightly to Allah, without equating anyone with him.” (Al-Hajj 22:30-31)

One day Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) stood up immediately after praying Salatul-Fajr (the Morning prayer) and repeated three times, “False witness has been equated to idolatry”. The he recited the verse of the Quran quoted above. (Reported from Khuraim Ibn Fatik in Sunani Abu Dawud and Sunani Ibni Majah)

Also, consider this: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was asked if a believer could be a coward or a miser. He indicated that it was possible. But when he was asked if a believer could be a liar. He replied, “No!” (Reported from Safwan Ibn Sulaim by Malik and Baihaqi)

Let us just remind ourselves of the following two Ahadith while talking about trustworthiness:

“There are four traits which whoever possesses is a pure hypocrite; and whoever has any one of them, has a trait of hypocrisy until he gets rid of it: When entrusted, he embezzles (cheats); when speaks, he lies; when promises, he reneges (breaks them); and, when quarrels, he abuses (uses foul language).” (Abdullah Ibn Umar in Bukhari and Muslim)

“A believer (Muslim) might have, being subject to the frailty of human nature, other bad traits but not dishonesty or lying.” (Reported by Ahmad and Baihaqi from Abu Umamah.)

Hence, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) admonished:

“You must adopt truthfulness because it leads to piety which leads to Jannah (paradise). When a person keeps telling the truth and adopts a life of truthfulness, he is written as a Siddique (the most truthful and dedicated to truth) in the records of Allah. And you must stay away from lying because it leads to wickedness which leads to the Fire. When a person keeps lying and indulges in lies, he is included in the list of liars with Allah Most High.” (Reported from ‘Abdullah Ibn Masud in Bukhari and Muslim)

“The gravest dishonesty is that you lie to your (Muslim) brother about something while he believes that you are telling the truth.” (Reported from Sufyan Ibn Ased Al-Hadhramiy in Abu Dawud)

On the positive side, let us also read three Ahadith that give good news to the truthful people:

“If loving Allah and His Messenger or being loved by Allah and His Messenger pleases a person, then he must tell the truth whenever he speaks, give back the trust when entrusted, and behave superbly to his neighbours.” (Reported by Baihaqi in Shu’abul-eman from Abdur-Rahman Ibn Abe Qurad)

“You guarantee me consistent practice of six actions, I will guarantee you Jannah (Paradise): Be truthful when you speak, fulfill promises when you commit, pay up when you are entrusted, protect your private parts, lower your gaze (turn away from inappropriate sights), withhold your hands (from doing improper things).” (Reported by Baihaqi in Shu’abul-eman from ‘Ubadah Ibn Samit)

“A truthful and honest businessman will be in the company of prophets, their sincerest companions and martyrs.” (Abu Saed in At-Tirmidze, Ad-Darame, and Ad-Daru-qutne)

Not only what we say must be the truth, but also it must be what is the most appropriate, fair, reasonable, to the point and beneficial. The Holy Quran commands:

O believers! Adopt Taqwa (piety) and say only the words that are saded (in keeping with the faith, befitting, right to the point).” (Al-Ahzab 33:70)

A sincere believer, in addition to being extremely careful in avoiding falsehood in serious situations or major things, also watches what he says. He avoids saying anything that is not true even in minor situations, in speaking to little children, or in jest. He even avoids passing on rumours, hearsay or anything for which he himself does not have personal knowledge of its accuracy.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

“It is enough of a lie for a person to tell others what he hears.” (Reported in Muslim from Abu Hurairah)

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amir stated that one day the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was sitting in our home and my mother called me, “Come here, I will give you something”. The Messenger asked, “What do you want to give him.” She said that she wanted to give him a date. He responded, “If you do not give him anything, it will be recorded against you as a lie.” (Abu Dawud)

“Lying is not acceptable, whether seriously or jokingly. Not even in case when you promise to give your child something and then do not give.” (Reported in Al-Adabul Mufrad from ‘Abdullah)

“Woe to him who tells lies to make people laugh. Woe to him. Woe to him.” (Bahz Bin Hakem in At-Tirmidzi)

Giving a false impression is also a form of lie:

A woman asked the Messenger, “My husband has another wife. Will it be sinful if I dress and live well, making it appear as if all of that is being provided by my husband? He replied, “If one gives that impression for the things he does not give, then that person is like someone who dresses up in lies.” (Reported in Bukhari and Muslim and Mishkat from Asma)

Often, when offered something, people pretend they do not need it while in reality they do. That also is regarded as a lie:

When we brought one of the Prophet’s (PBUH) wives to him as a bride, he brought out a bowl of milk, drank some and then gave it to his wife. She declined saying, “I have no appetite.” He responded, “Do not add a lie to your hunger.” (Reported by Tabarani from Asma bint ‘Umais)

However, there are some exceptions of life and death or other dire necessity where withholding the truth, obfuscating and, in some situations, even misrepresentation does not make the person a liar. One such situation is during war. For example, if a Muslim is caught as a prisoner of war, he must not tell the true position and facts about the Muslim army that will be beneficial to the enemy. Rather, he should say things that will misguide the enemy or discourage it in order to shorten the war, to reduce the fatalities in the war or to help Muslims win. Another such situation is when it is the only way of reconciling two parties. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said,

“He is not a liar who says some good things and conveys good comments to reconcile among the people.” (Reported from Umm Kulthum in Bukhari and Muslim)

May Allah make us among those who uphold the ethics and standards taught to us by His Messenger (PBUH) so that we meet Him and find Him pleased with us.


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