The Importance of Truthfulness
Truthfulness is regarded as a fundamental principle of faith that benefits individuals both in this life and the hereafter. It serves as a pathway to guidance in all beneficial actions, promoting abundance in sustenance and rewards, fostering love among people, and ultimately leading to success in the afterlife. Verbally, truthfulness refers to articulating reality and refraining from falsehood, while in action, it involves sincerity in intention and adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In essence, it represents a steadfast determination and will to pursue a path towards Allah.
Hadith on Truthfulness
The integrity of truth-tellers elevates their status above others, as truthfulness is the hallmark of virtue and a fundamental requirement in the life of a believer. Numerous Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) highlight its significance, including:
- “You must be truthful, for truth leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to be truthful and makes efforts to be truthful until he is recorded as a truthful person before Allah.”
- “There are four traits; if they are found in a person, it does not matter what he misses in this world: fulfilling trusts, speaking the truth, having good character, and being abstinent in sustenance.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq: “Will you leave me, my companion? I declared: O people, indeed I am Allah’s Messenger to you all, yet you said: You have lied. And Abu Bakr said: You have spoken the truth.”
- “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should either speak good or remain silent.”
- Abdullah bin Amr said: “We asked the Prophet: Who is the best of people? He replied: The one with a pure heart and a truthful tongue.”
- “Whoever sincerely asks Allah for martyrdom, Allah will grant him the rank of martyrs, even if he dies on his bed.”
- “The two sellers have the option of annulment as long as they have not separated. If they are truthful and clarify the details, they will be blessed in their transaction; if they lie and conceal, the blessings of their transaction will be eliminated.”
- “Leave what causes you doubt for what does not cause you doubt, for truthfulness brings peace of mind, while falsehood breeds suspicion.”
- “Guarantee me six attributes from yourselves, and I will guarantee you Paradise: be truthful when you speak, fulfill your pledges, deliver trusts, guard your chastity, lower your gazes, and restrain your hands.”
Truthfulness in the Holy Qur’an
The Qur’an contains numerous verses that emphasize the importance of truthfulness from various perspectives. Here are some notable references:
- “Say: Allah has spoken the truth; so follow the religion of Abraham, the upright, and he was not one of the polytheists.”
- “And who is more truthful than Allah in speech?”
- “Allah! There is no deity except Him; He will surely gather you on the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful than Allah in statement?”
- “And when the believers saw the confederate armies, they said: This is what Allah and His Messenger had promised us, and Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth. And it only increased them in faith and submission.”
- “And they said: Praise be to Allah, who has fulfilled His promise to us and made us inherit the land where we may settle as we wish. Excellent is the reward for the righteous.”
- “And mention in the Scripture, Abraham. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.”
- “Rather, he brought the truth and confirmed the messengers.”
- “And mention in the Scripture, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.”
- “And say, My Lord, admit me into a good entrance and exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority.”
- “The believers are only those who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then have not doubted and have struggled with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is those who are the true.”
- “O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with the truthful.”
- “Obedience and a good word. But when the matter is resolved, had they been true to Allah, it would have been better for them.”
- “That Allah may reward the truthful for their truth and punish the hypocrites if He wills or accept repentance from them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
- “And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor, of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous. And excellent are those companions.”
- “Allah said: This is the Day when the truthfulness of the truthful will benefit them. They will have gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide eternally.”
- “Indeed, the Muslims and the Muslim women, the believing men and the believing women, the devout men and the devout women, the truthful men and the truthful women, the patient men and the patient women, the humble men and the humble women, the charitable men and the charitable women, the fasting men and the fasting women, and those who guard their private parts, and the rememberers of Allah often, and the rememberers of Allah, for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.”