Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahamat Allaah Wa Barakatuhu Being Truthful My dear brothers and sisters in Islam Assalamualaikum Truthfulness is an integral part of high moral standard regardless of what religion or geographic boundary one belongs to. Indeed we live in a time of deceit, fake identities, shameless lies and superfluous belief system. This is exactly what the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said regarding times similar to ours when he said: “In the End Times men will come forth who will fraudulently use religion for worldly ends and wear sheepskins in public to display meekness. Their tongues will be sweeter than sugar, but their hearts will be the hearts of wolves.” [Tirmidhi] Famous author George Orwell once said: “In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, in these turbulent days, when truth is stranger than fiction (as was quoted my Mark Twain), holding on to it is even far more difficult. Allah jalla wa ala said: “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” [At-Tawba, Ayat 119] The above verse from the Qur’an clearly indicates that fearing Allah and staying in the company of truthful people are key characteristics of believers. As we spoke in the last two weeks about the COOL COMPANIONSHIP, it is also extremely important to understand that the fragrant aroma of truthful companion will lead one to the Blissful land of Al-Jannah. In sura Ahzab (ayat 35), Allah subhanhau wa ta’la said: “Surely the men who submit and the women who submit ………. the men and women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds)…… Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a mighty reward.” From the above verse it is abundantly clear that people who are not of those categories mentioned in the verse, will not be counted among people of Allah’s forgiveness and neither they will receive the mighty reward. Further Allah subhanahu wa ta’la says: “Obedience and a gentle word (was proper); but when the affair becomes settled, then if they remain true to Allah it would certainly be better for them”. [Muhammad, Ayat 21] The term being ‘true to Allah’ mentioned in the verse means continual obedience to Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) according to Qatada (rahimahullah). Abdullah ibn Masud (radiallahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Truth leads to piety and piety leads to Jannah. A man persists in speaking the truth till he is enrolled with Allah as a truthful. Falsehood leads to vice and vice leads to the Fire (Hell), and a person persists on telling lies until he is enrolled as a liar.” [Agreed upon] In the Sahih Muslim version of the above hadith it reads: “I order you to be truthful, for indeed truthfulness leads to righteousness, and indeed righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to be truthful and strives for truthfulness until he is written as a truthful person with God. And beware of falsehood, for indeed falsehood leads to sinning, and indeed sinning leads to the Fire. A man continues to tell lies and strives upon falsehood until he is written as a liar with God.” May Allah save us from telling lies and may He save us from the fire of the Hell. In the commentary of the above hadith it is mentioned: “Siddiq (veracious) and Kadhdhab (liar) both are adjectives of intensive degree. That is to say, the words stand respectively for someone whose truth has become his second nature; and in the opposite case, one is a liar who is in the habit of telling lies. As one acquires a reputation in this world for his good or bad deeds similar is his position before Allah. One who is ranked among the truthful with Him is entitled to reward, and if one is a liar, he has to suffer retribution for it. This Hadith provides incentive for truthfulness because it is a source of every good deed and contains a warning against lying as it gives rise to all kinds of mischief.” [Riyad as Salehin] Often we speak about things that are doubtful (not quiet untruth / lie), bit in the grey area. A muslim should avoid talking about these things. Hasan bin Ali (radiallahu anhu) said: “I remember (these words) from Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam): “Give up what is doubtful to you for that which is not doubtful; for truth is peace of mind and falsehood is doubt”. [Tirmidhi] Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has equated doubtful matters with falsehood. Indeed, it is safe for us to avoid such matters. Interestingly one the greatest evidence for speaking only truth comes from the hadith of Abu Sufyan’s (radiallahu anhu) discussion with Heraclius. Please note that at the time of this discussion Abu Sufyan was a pagan / disbeliever. In the hadith, Abu Sufyan said on questioning from Heraclius: “He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) told us to worship Allah Alone and do not associate a thing with Him; and give up all that our ancestors said. He also commanded us to perform Salat (prayers), to speak the truth, to observe modesty and to strengthen the ties of kinship.” [Bukhari and Muslim] There are immense benefits of being truthful both here and in the Hereafter. Ali (radiallahu anhu) once said while mentioning the bwenfits of being truthful: “Whoever does three things with regards to people, they will necessitate three things from him: whenever he speaks to them he is truthful; whenever they entrust him with something he does not betray them; and whenever he promises them something he fulfils it. If he does this, their hearts will love him; their tongues will praise him; and they will come to his aid.” [Adab Ash Shariah – Ibn Muflih] The benefit in the Hereafter for being truthful in this dunya is nothing but the guarantee of Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) of jannah. The prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Guarantee for me six things and I will guarantee Paradise for you: tell the truth when you speak, fulfill your promises, be faithful when you are trusted, safeguard your private parts, lower your gaze, and withhold your hands (from harming others).” [As-Saheehayn] There are many other hadith pertaining to the matter of being truthful. Unfortunately, many of us often overlook these small acts with great rewards and indulge in greater acts of sacrifice with little benefit. Often we do this to show-off to the dunya, and often we do such act out of ignorance. Building the character of ones own self is prime and first issue one should address rather than calling every one else to Islam. Indeed, a liar will be thrown to hell-fire until to endure the punsihment until such time Allah wills to save him / her. May Allah make us of those who are truthful. May Allah make us of those who do not cause disharmony by speaking ill of others. May Allah make us of those who are beautiful in their speaking and manners. Wassalam Abu Akeef HADITH OF THE WEEK: The Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: I am the prophet of battles, and I am the prophet of mercy. -- kalamullah
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 06:24:21 +0000
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