The status of truthfulness in Islam (3)

Qualities of the truthful:

* The truthful are the people of belief, benevolence, patience, and piety:

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "It is not Al Birr (piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to Allâh, etc.) that you turn your faces towards the east and (or) the west (in prayers); but Al Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allâh, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al Masâkîn (the needy), and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, and performs As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and gives the Zakât, and who fulfil their covenant when they  make it, and who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of fighting (during the battles). Such are the people of the truth and they are Al Muttaqûn (the pious)." [Surat Al Baqarah: 177].

* The truthful are the people of belief, certainty, and striving in the cause of Allah:

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Only those are the believers who have believed in Allâh and His Messenger, and afterward doubt not but strive with their wealth and their lives for the Cause of Allâh. Those! They are the truthful." [Surat Al Hujurat: 15].

Benefits of truthfulness:

When truthfulness fills the heart, its light brightens the heart and its consequences appear on the truthful in their creeds, acts of worship, and behavior.

Of its impacts and benefits are the following:

The truthful is the best of mankind:

Al Bayhaqy reported on the authority of `Abdullah ibn `Amr ibn Al `Aas who said: We asked the Messenger of Allah: Who is the best of mankind? He said: The best of people are those who have Al Qalb Al Makhmum and sincere speech. Somebody asked: What is the meaning of Al Qalb Al Makhmum? He said: Those who have pure hearts which have no sin, oppression, animosity, envy. It was said: Who is next? He said: He who hates the world and loves the Hereafter. It was said: Who is next? He said: A believer who has a good manner.

Ibn Majah reported on the authority of `Abdullah ibn `Amr who said: It was said to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) who among people is the best? He said: "Everyone who is pure of heart and sincere of speech. They said: Sincere of speech, we know what this is, but what is pure of heart?' He said: 'It is (the heart) that is pious and pure, with no sin, injustice, rancor or envy in it."

Answering invocation and getting a great reward from Allah (may He be Exalted) even if a person fails to do the action which he sincerely intended to do:

Muslim reported on the authority of Sahl ibn Abu Umamah ibn Sahl ibn Hanif from his father from his grandfather that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Who sought martyrdom with sincerity will be ranked by Allah among the martyrs even if he died on his bed."

Getting blessing in buying and selling:

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported on the authority of Hakim ibn Hizam (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Both parties to a transaction have a right to cancel it as long as they have not separated. And if both the parties spoke the truth and described the defects and qualities (of the goods), then they would be blessed in their transaction, and if they told lies or hid something, then the blessings of their transaction would be lost."

Tranquility of the heart and self-peace:

At-Tirmidhy reported on the authority of Al Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "I have memorized something from Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him): Give up what is doubtful to you for that which is not doubtful; for truth is peace of mind and falsehood is doubt."

Leave out what you doubt in and seek what you do not doubt.

Advancement to the ranks of the righteous, the pious, and the truthful:

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And whoso obey Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him), then they will be in the company of those on whom Allâh has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the Siddiqûn (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them, like Abu Bakr As-Siddîq may Allah be pleased with him), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!"

The pleasure of Allah:

"Allah will say: This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) - they shall abide therein forever. Allah is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success (Paradise)." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 119].

Paradise:

Ahmad, Al Bayhaqy, and Ibn Hibban on the authority of `Ubadah ibn As-Samit that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Do six things for me and I guarantee Paradise for you: Be truthful when you speak, fulfill your promises if you make one, and render trusts when you are entrusted, safeguard your private parts, lower your gazes, and withold your hands [from taking unlawful things]."

Dear honorable brothers, keep to truthfulness, for truthfulness is the way of goodness, a way to winning and success, a way to security, love, stability, and growth, a way to happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.

Beware of lying, for it is a way to every evil and affliction, sedition and disease, and a way to misery in this world and in the next. And whoever is known once for lying, his status falls and his trust is reduced by his false speech, so he should not blame anyone but himself.

O Allah, make us from the truthful, assemble us with the truthful, grant us a sincere speech, and purify us from lying.