The status of truthfulness in Islam (1)

Our speech is still continuous about the manners of this great religion and our speech today is about a great manner of Islam:

A manner whoever adopts shall reach the good end, whoever possesses shall survive, and whoever endeavors to establish it shall be rewarded. It is one of the qualities of believers, one of the traits of the pious, and one of the characteristics of righteous people to which Allah (Glory be to Him) exhorted and promised those who are characterized by with the abode of bliss. That quality is truthfulness which is the beacon of truth and the title of all types of goodness.

How much we need truthfulness in a time liars increased in number, whereas truthful people have diminished, lying has spread and truthfulness has decreased.

Its definition:

Truthfulness is telling about something as it is which is contrary to lying.

Al Qurtuby said: The word "Siddiq i.e., truthful" means the one who achieves by his actions what he says with his tongue.

Its status:

Truthfulness is a prerequisite in the life of a believer, as it is the head of virtues, and the title of righteousness and virtue. Allah (may He be Exalted) praised those who adopt this manner. Allah (Glory be to Him) said: "And those who believe in (the Oneness of) Allah and His Messengers, they are the Siddiqun (i.e. those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them), and the martyrs with their Lord, they shall have their reward and their light." [Surat Al Hadid: 19].

By truthfulness, hypocrites are distinguished from the people of faith, and the Paradise dwellers are distinguished from Hell dwellers. Truthfulness is the sword of Allah in His Land which removes any falsehood. Whoever adopts it his status raises and whoever speaks with it, his words shall rise over his enemies and his proof becomes apparent.

Allah (Glory be to Him) commanded His Servants with adopting it where says: "O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds)." [Surat At-Tawbah: 119].

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported with the wordings of Muslim on the authority of `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "I enjoin you to be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man may continue to tell the truth and endeavor to be truthful until he is recorded with Allah as truthful. And beware of lying, for lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. A man may continue to tell lies and endeavor to tell lies, until he is recorded with Allah as a liar."

`Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "There are four qualities if you have them, nothing of the world can harm you: Keeping the trust, truthfulness of speech, good manners, and lawfulness of food."

Reported by Imam Ahmad, Ibn Abu Ad-Dunya, At-Tabarany, and Al Bayhaqy with good chains of transmissions.

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Truthfulness is a trust, whereas laying is a treason.

When pushing oneself to adopt truthfullness in all its affairs is difficult and a person cannot do it perfectly except by the help of Allah, Allah commanded His Prophet to ask Him for truthfulness in all his affairs. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: "And say (O Muhammad peace be upon him): My Lord! Let my entry (to the city of Al-Madinah) be good, and (likewise) my exit (from the city of Makkah) be good. And grant me from You an authority to help me (or a firm sign or a proof)." [Surat Al Isra': 80].

Truthfulness is one of the characteristics of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He):

Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him): Allâh has spoken the truth." "And whose words can be truer than those of Allâh? (Of course, none)." "And who is truer in statement than Allâh?"

Truthfulness is one of the attributes of Prophets and Messengers: "This is what the Most Gracious (Allâh) had promised, and the Messengers spoke truth!"

Abraham said: "My Lord! Bestow Hukman (religious knowledge, right judgement of the affairs and Prophethood) on me, and join me with the righteous * And grant me an honorable mention in later generations." [Surat Ash-Shu`ara': 83 - 84].

"And mention in the Book (the Quran) Ibrahim (Abraham). Verily! He was a man of truth, a Prophet." [Surat Maryam: 41].

Isaac and Jacob said: "So when he had turned away from them and from those whom they worshipped besides Allah, We gave him Ishaque (Isaac) and Ya'qub (Jacob), and each one of them We made a Prophet. * And We gave them of Our Mercy (a good provision in plenty), and We granted them honour on the tongues (of all the nations, i.e. everybody remembers them with a good praise)." [Surat Maryam: 49 - 50].

Ishmael said: "And mention in the Book (the Qur'ân) Ismâ'îl (Ishmael). Verily, he was true to what he promised, and he was a Messenger, (and) a Prophet." [Surat Maryam: 54].

Enoch (Idris): "And mention in the Book (the Quran) Idris (Enoch). Verily! He was a man of truth, (and) a Prophet." [Surat Maryam: 56].

Joseph said: "(He said): O Yusuf (Joseph), the man of truth! Explain to us (the dream) of seven fat cows." [Surat Yusuf: 46].

The Messenger (peace be upon him) was the most truthful of all people, the most kind, the most perfect in knowledge, action, faith, and certainty. He was known with truthfulness among his people, therefore he was known by truthfulness and rendering trusts before the mission. After the mission, the confirmation of the revelation to him made his Companions call him "the most truthful". Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Your companion (Muhammad peace be upon him) has neither gone astray nor has erred. * Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. * It is only a Revelation revealed." [Surat An-Najm: 2 4].

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "When the following Ayah was revealed: "And warn your tribe (O Muhammad peace be upon him) of near kindred." The Prophet (peace be upon him) climbed Al Safa (a mountain in Makkah) and called: "O tribe of Fihr! O tribe of 'Ady! (addressing various tribes of Quraysh) till they were assembled. Those who could not come themselves, sent their messengers to see what was there. Abu Lahab and other people from Quraysh came and the Prophet (peace be upon him) then said: "Suppose I told you that there is an (enemy) cavalry in the valley intending to attack you, would you believe me?" They said: "Yes, for we have not found you telling anything other than the truth." He then said: "I am a warner to you in face of a terrific punishment." Abu Lahab said (to the Prophet peace be upon him) "May your hands perish all this day. Is it for this purpose you have gathered us?" Then it was revealed: "Perish the hands of Abu Lahab (one of the Prophet's uncles), and perish he! His wealth and his children will not profit him...." [Surat Al Masad: 1 - 2].

Truthfulness is one of the qualities of the pious: "Say: Shall I inform you of things far better than those? For Al-Muttaqûn (the pious) there are Gardens (Paradise) with their Lord, underneath which rivers flow. Therein (is their) eternal (home) and Azwâjun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives). And Allâh will be pleased with them. And Allâh is All-Seer of the (His) slaves * Those who say: "Our Lord! We have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Fire. * (They are) those who are patient, those who are true (in Faith, words, and deeds), and obedient with sincere devotion in worship to Allâh. Those who spend [give the Zakât and alms in the Way of Allâh] and those who pray and beg Allâh's Pardon in the last hours of the night." "And he (Muhammad peace be upon him) 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)." [Surat Az-Zumar: 33].

The Companions said: "(And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking Bounties from Allâh and to please Him, and helping Allâh (i.e. helping His religion) and His Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him). Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say)." [Surat Al Hashr: 8].

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him):

Al Hakim reported on the authority of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was taken to the Aqsa Mosque and people started to speak about that, some people left Islam. Some people who believed in, believed, and heard that said to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him): Your companion claims that he was taken tonight to Bayt Al-Maqdis (Palestine). He said: Did he say that? They said: Indeed, he said. If he had said so, he has told the truth. They said: Do you believe that he went tonight to Bayt Al-Maqdis (Palestine) and came before the morning? He said: Yes, I believe him in something more strange; I believe him in the news which he brings from the sky in the morning and in the evening; therefore he was nicknamed Abu Bakr As-Siddiq.

Al Bukhari reported on the authority of Abu Ad-Darda' that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said in the favor of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him): "Would you leave my companion to me? Would you leave my companion to me? I said: O people, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all and you said: You tell lies, whereas Abu Bakr said: You have said the truth."