Truthfulness – the greatest station



“….It is the foundation of the building of Islam, the central pillar of the edifice of certainty and the next in level in ranking after the level of the prophet hood” A man, was walking in the state of Janaabah, and he saw Muhammad S.A.W. and he quickly ran away, to go and purify himself. He then met Muhammad S.A.W. and the Rasool S.A.W. asked him why did he go away when he saw him? He explained that he was in the state of Janaabah and did not want to meet him being impure. Muhammad S.A.W. informed him that the muslim is never impure. The man, Abu Hurrairah R.A. was truthful in what he felt, what he did, what he replied and Muhammad S.A.W. as always, spoke a straight word.

Allah SWT gives us glimpse of a result: “That Allah may reward the truthful for their truth, and punish the hypocrites if He wills, or turn mercifully towards them..” Al-Ahzaab: 64As-Sidq is the truth that permits neither falsehood nor hypocrisy. It is truthfulness that negates hypocrisy. It is truthfulness in all aspects of ones life which contradicts dishonesty, lies and false speech. It is As-Sidq in public and private. It is truthfulness to Allah SWT and His creation. It is truthfulness not only in speech, but also in our actions and in our belief.

Alif Lam Mim. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We Believe”, and will not be tested. And we indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test).” [Al-Ankabut 29:1-3] It was narrated by Mu’adh ibn Jabal (رضي الله عنه ) that Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) said: “There is none who testifies truthfully from his heart that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) is His abd (His worshipper) and Messenger, except that Allah will save him from Hell-Fire.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]

Similar words that correspond to Truthfulness in the English language are honest, trustworthy; candid, frank. SubhanAllah, if we can understand what is the status of truthfulness, perhaps we may realize that if you have it, you need to hold on, if you do not have it, then what do you think you have to do, to try and acquire it bi’idhnillah? The status is very high, listen to Allah SWT“..Such are together with those who Allah has blessed: the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. What an excellent company such people are”

It was reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim that Anas (رضي الله عنه ) narrated from Mu'adh (رضي الله عنه ), the text of which states in Al-Bukhari that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ), when Mu'adh (رضي الله عنه ) was alongside him as a companion rider, said: “O Mu'adh ibn Jabal, “Mu'adh replied: “Labbaik, O Messenger of Allah and Sa’daik.” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) said: O Mu'adh! he replied: ‘Labbaik, O Messenger of Allah and Sa’daik’, three times. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) said: “There is none who testifies truthfully from his heart, that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, except that Allah will save him from the Hell-Fire”. (Mu'adh) asked: “O Messenger of Allah, should I not inform the people about it so that they may have glad tidings?” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) replied: “When the people hear about it they will solely depend upon it.” Mu'adh (رضي الله عنه ) narrated this Hadith just before his death- fearing that he may be committing a sin by withholding knowledge from the people.

Imaan and Nifaaq cannot exist together, except that one will eventually over take the other. Imaan is based on truthfulness, while nifaaq is based on dishonesty. A man can be performing salat and fasting, yet he only wants to implement one part of the shariah and not the rest – he follows hypocrisy instead of true imaan.

A man abandons divine laws, even though he hears the words of Allah SWT being recited, he hears sincere and true advice given to him, yet he ignores it and deliberately turns away, neglects it, desiring other than it – what truth is there in his faith? “None of you truly believes until his desire is in accordance with what I brought” NawawiSo lets try to be truthful.

Truthful to Allah SWT as Allah SWT informs us: “This day on which the truthful will profit from their truth. They shall have gardens underneath which rivers flow to live therein forever. Allah is well pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. This is supreme success.” So lets try to be truthful. Truthful to Muhammad S.A.W. by fulfilling all that the shahaadahtain requires of us for there is a time when Muhammad S.A.W. will come to the kauthar and the angels will stop some people, and after Muhammad S.A.W. identifies them as part of His Ummah, then he will be told, ‘you do not know what they did after you died’.

So lets be truthful to our fellow muslims, not only in advising and helping but also in criticizing and preventing. “Guarantee me six and I will guarantee you Paradise: be truthful when you speak, fulfill your promises, carry out what you are entrusted with, safeguard your private parts, lower your gaze and restrain your hands.” Ibn Hibban – Ubadah bin Samit.This includes in business: “Two parties in trade are free [to accept or reject the commodity], so long as they do not part. If they are truthful and clarify, their transaction will be blessed, but if they lie and conceal, the blessings of their transaction will be eradicated” Bukhari and muslim

COMPANY: “O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah and be with the truthful” Take you your week, and break it down, into days and hours. How many hours do you spend with other people? Of those no. of hours, who are these people? Are they amongst the truthful?

UPHOLD TRUTHFUL SPEECH, KEEP PROMISES AND FULFILL TRUSTS: “The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks he lies, when he makes an oath he breaks it and when is entrusted with something he betrays that trust.” Speak if you going to speak the truth, otherwise better to be silent. Give your word, if you know you able to fulfill it or will do your very best. Do your utmost best to fulfill trust given to you.

SPEECH AND ENTERTAINMENT WITH TRUTH: Do not lie, do not lie, do not lie, not even in joking. Not even to lighten up the atmosphere: “Woe to the person who lies to make people laugh, woe to him, woe to him” ….”I guarantee a house in the middle of Paradise for the one who leaves of lying even if it is in jest” Tirmidhi Always remember that this does not mean that one cannot be light hearted, pleasant and enjoy a good laugh. “A servant will not attain the clarity of faith, until he leaves of jest, lying and arguing even he is on the right” Aby Ya’la – Umar

STRIVE TO BE TRUTHFUL, MAYBE ALLAH WILL ACCEPT AND MAKE YOU SUCH: “Truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to paradise, a person remains truthful until he is written as a Siddiq with Allah. Lying leads to wickedness and wickedness leads to the Fire, a person keeps lying until he is written as a Khaddhab with Allah”

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