Truthfulness:
“Speaking the truth and ensuring that one’s words correspond to reality”
(definition of Muslim jurists). Al-Raghib al-Isfahani defines truthfulness as
“the correspondence of one’s words with one’s conscience and what is being
reported. If any of these conditions are not met, then it is not complete
truthfulness.”
Truthfulness
means being honest and just in all your dealings with others. It also means
being prepared to admit your mistakes when you make them. Failure to admit a
mistake harms others you deal with, whether they are an accountant in a store,
company, or institution, or a waiter in a club or restaurant. Exploiting the mistakes
of anyone you deal with is unacceptable and constitutes dishonesty and bad
character. Furthermore, this bad behavior unjustly and aggressively burdens
others with the consequences of your dishonesty.
The
question that comes to mind now is, what is the difference between truth and
honesty? Before answering this question, we must understand what truth is.
Truth, technically speaking, is defined as "a judgment that corresponds to
reality. It is applied to statements, beliefs, religions, and doctrines insofar
as they contain this quality, and its opposite is falsehood." As for
honesty, it is commonly associated with statements specifically, and its
opposite is lying. Therefore, the difference between them lies in
correspondence: in truth, reality corresponds to truth, and in honesty, honesty
corresponds to reality. This leads us to another question: What is the
difference between honesty and fidelity? Honesty is in speech because it is a
type of statement, and a statement is speech, while fidelity is in action.
Thus, every act of fidelity is honesty, but not every act of honesty is
fidelity. Finally, what is the difference between a truthful person and a
trustworthy person? Al-Mawardi says, “The difference between a truthful person
and a truthful person is that a truthful person is truthful in his words, while
a truthful person is one whose truthfulness extends beyond his words to the
truthfulness of his actions, in accordance with his state, both in private and
in public. Thus, every truthful person is truthful, but not every truthful
person is a truthful person.” For example, our master Abu Bakr, may God be
pleased with him, believed the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in
word and deed during the Isra and Mi'raj incident when Abu Jahl and his people
rushed to him to tell him what the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him,
had told them. He uttered his famous statement: “If he said it, then he spoke
the truth.” And here is the Qur’an praising our master Abraham, peace be upon
him, as a truthful person in the words of God Almighty: “And mention in the
Book (the Quran) Ibrahim (Abraham). Verily! He was a man of truth, a prophet”
(Surat Maryam: 41). Because of his truthfulness in his words, deeds, and
circumstances, and his belief in everything he is commanded to believe. A true
friend is truthful and faithful. Truthfulness is a praiseworthy virtue; indeed,
it is considered the crown of moral values and the best of them all, as it is
one of the pillars and foundations—indeed, if you prefer, the most important
and noble—that contribute to the uprightness of an individual's life and the
soundness of social relations among members of society. Among the fruits and
benefits resulting from possessing it are preserving the purity and integrity
of belief from the impurities of hidden polytheism and other things;
maintaining uprightness and steadfastness upon it; loving the righteous and
truthful and frequently sitting with them and interacting with them; sincerity
in worshiping God and following the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be
upon him; a good end in this world and the hereafter; being mindful of God
Almighty in secret and in public; a high status in society; and peace and
tranquility of the soul. Among the consequences of truthfulness are goodness,
the attainment of immediate and future blessings, and the continuation of the
sincere servant's connection with God through supplication, humility, and
fulfilling covenants.
The
Quran has urged and encouraged truthfulness in numerous verses, including the
words of God. Almighty: "Among the believers are men who have been true to
their covenant with Allah; of them, some have fulfilled their obligations
(i.e., have been martyred), and some of them are still waiting, but they have
never changed [i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they
concluded with Allah] in the least" (Surah Al-Ahzab: 23). And His words,
may His glory be exalted: "And he (Muhammad SAW) who has brought the truth
(this Quran and Islamic Monotheism) and (those who) believed therein (i.e., the
true believers of Islamic Monotheism), those are Al-Muttaqun (the pious and
righteous persons—see V. 2:2). 33 They shall have all that they desire with
their Lord. That is the reward of Muhsinun (good-doers—see V. 2:112). 34 So that
Allah may remit from them the evil of what they did and give them the reward,
according to the best of what they used to do (Surah Al-Baqarah 35, Al-Zumar:
33-35). The Quran informs us that true truth is the truth of God. Have you not
read the words of God? Almighty: “But those who believe (in the Oneness of
Allah—Islamic Monotheism) and do deeds of righteousness, We shall admit them to
the Gardens under which rivers flow (i.e., in Paradise) to dwell therein
forever. Allah's Promise is the Truth, and whose words can be truer than those
of Allah? (Of course, none). (Surat An-Nisa: 122), and His words, may He be
glorified and exalted: “And when the believers saw the companies, they said,
"This is what Allah and His Messenger had promised us, and Allah and His
Messenger spoke the truth." And it increased them only in faith and
acceptance.” (Surat Al-Ahzab: 22). And truthfulness is one of the qualities
that God praised many of His prophets for, as the Qur’an said about the Prophet
of God, Abraham: “And mention in the Book [the story of] Abraham. Indeed, he
was a man of truth and a prophet.” (Surat Maryam: 41). And He said about our
master Ishmael, peace and blessings be upon him and our Prophet: “And mention
in the Book (the Quran) Isma'il (Ishmael). Verily! He was true to what he
promised, and he was a messenger and a prophet.” (Surat Maryam: 54) And about
our master Joseph: “(He said): "O Yusuf (Joseph), the man of truth!”
(Surat Yusuf: 46) And about our master Idris: “And mention in the book, Idrees.
Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.” (Surat Maryam: 56) As for our
noble Messenger, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, God described him as
possessing the most sublime character in His Almighty saying: “And verily, you
(O Muhammad SAW) are on an exalted standard of character.” (Surat Al-Anbiya: 4)
The pen: 4). And truthfulness is one of the reasons for its possessor entering
Paradise, as indicated by the words of God. Almighty: "Say: 'Shall I
inform you of things far better than those? For Al-Muttaqun (the pious—see V.
2:2) there are Gardens (Paradise) with their Lord, underneath which rivers
flow. Therein (is their) eternal (home) and Azwajun Mutahharatun (purified
mates or wives) [i.e. they will have no menses, urine, or stool, etc.], and
Allah will be pleased with them. And Allah is the All-Seer of the (His)
slaves." 15 Those who say, "Our Lord! We have indeed believed, so
forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Fire" 16 are
those who are patient, those who are true (in faith, words, and deeds), and
those who are obedient with sincere devotion in worship to Allah. Those who
spend [give the Zakat and alms in the Way of Allah] and those who pray and beg
Allah's pardon in the last hours of the night. 17 (Surat Al Imran: 15-17) And that
he imbues his companions with the qualities of the people of faith and piety,
as indicated by the words of God, the Most High: “Indeed, the Muslim men and
Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and
obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and
patient women, the humble men and humble women, and the charitable men.”
Verily, the Muslims (those who submit to Allah in Islam) men and women, the
believers men and women (who believe in Islamic Monotheism), the men and the
women who are obedient (to Allah), the men and women who are truthful (in their
speech and deeds), the men and the women who are patient (in performing all the
duties which Allah has ordered and in abstaining from all that Allah has forbidden),
the men and the women who are humble (before their Lord Allah), the men and the
women who give Sadaqat (i.e. Zakat, and alms, etc.), the men and the women who
observe Saum (fast) (the obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadan, and
the optional Nawafil fasting), the men and the women who guard their chastity
(from illegal sexual acts) and the men and the women who remember Allah much
with their hearts and tongues (while sitting, standing, lying, etc. for more
than 300 times extra over the remembrance of Allah during the five compulsory
congregational prayers) or praying extra additional Nawafil prayers of night in
the last part of night, etc.) Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a
great reward (i.e., Paradise). (Surat Al-Ahzab 33:35)
And
our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) urged the believers to
be truthful with people, saying, “The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he
speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he…” "He
was entrusted, and he betrayed" (Narrated by: Abu Hurairah; Source: Sahih
al-Bukhari); And truthfulness with oneself in his saying: “Leave what makes you
doubt for what does not make you doubt, for truthfulness is tranquility, and
falsehood is doubt” (Narrated by: Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib; Source: Irwa’
Al-Ghalil), and truthfulness in buying and selling so that they may attain the
blessing, and this is indicated by the saying of the Messenger of God, may God
bless him and grant him peace: “The two parties to a sale have the option as
long as they have not separated. If they are truthful and clear, their sale
will be blessed, and if they lie and conceal, the blessing of their sale will
be wiped out” (Narrated by: Abu Khalid Hakim bin Hizam; Hadith: Sahih Muslim).
One of the virtues of truthfulness in Islam is that the truthful person is the
best of people. This is indicated by the saying of the Messenger of God, may
God bless him and grant him peace: “It was said to the Messenger of God, may
God bless him and grant him peace: ‘Who are the best of people?’ He said,
“Everyone who is pure of heart [i.e., free from deceit] and truthful of
tongue.” (Narrated by Abdullah bin Amr; Source: Sunan Ibn Majah) And that he
earns the love of God Almighty and the love of His Messenger, may God bless him
and grant him peace. This is indicated by the saying of the Messenger of God,
may God bless him and grant him peace: “We were with the Prophet, may God bless
him and his family and grant them peace, and he called for water for
purification, dipped his hand in it, and performed ablution. We followed him
and drank from it. When he finished, he said, "What made you do what you
did?" We said, "The love of God and His Messenger." He said, “If
you love that God and His Messenger love you, then fulfill your trusts when you
are entrusted, be truthful when you speak, and be good to your neighbors.”
(Narrator: Abu Qarad Al-Sulami; Source: Al-Isabah) And that it is a reason for
its possessor to enter Paradise, and this is indicated by the saying of the
Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace: “Indeed, truthfulness
leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise, and a man
continues to be truthful and strives for truthfulness until he is recorded with
God as truthful. And indeed, lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to
Hell, and a man continues to lie and strives for lying until he is recorded
with God as a liar.” (Narrated by Abdullah bin Masoud; Source: Hilyat
al-Awliya’).
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