Truthfulness

Truthfulness is the base for many other good characteristics. It is the most important feature that a Muslim should have and obtain. It is the core for the moral system in Islam. It is defined to be: “whatever you say by your tongue or you do by your body, should match what is in your heart”. Truthfulness and honesty are the two faces of the same coin. Some scholars said lying is an act of betraying.

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked, “Can the mumin (believer) be a coward?” He said, “Yes.” He was asked, “Can the mumin (believer) be a miser?” He said, “Yes.” He was asked, “Can the mumin (believer) be a liar?” He said, “No.  Allah wants us to be truthful.” He says: “O Believers, fear Allah and be with those who are Truthful.” The Prophet said, “Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al−Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil−doing) and Al−Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire. A man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar."

Allah has never put two hearts within one person's body. One and the same person cannot be a believer and a hypocrite, truthful and false, wicked and righteous, at one and the same time.

If a person is a steadfast in truthfulness he becomes  صديق such as Ibrahim, Idris, Mary, and Abu Bakr. Therefore  صديق is higher than صادق. Lying is common among men in trade and business when they are doing transactions. So be careful when you do so. Also it is common among women, when they speak to each other about their families and children. They may claim things which are not true. Also always try to be a good example in front of your children by not practicing lying. Narrated Abdullah ibn Amir: “My mother called me one day when the Prophet of Allah was sitting in our house. She said: ‘Come here and I shall give you something.’ The Messenger of Allah asked her: ‘What did you intend to give him?’ She replied: ‘I intended to give him some dates.’ The Apostle of Allah said: ‘If you were not to give him anything, a lie would be recorded against you.’”

Also avoid being excessively suspicious; for some, suspicion is a sin. Remember, the worst talk is the talk of being suspicious as suspicion is a type of lying. Spreading false information is a type of lying.  The Prophet said: “It is enough falsehood for a man to relate everything he hears.” Also, don’t practise lying yourself and trying to put the blame on others.  The consequences of being untruthful in this life, is the shame, and after death, also the shame. The Prophet said, "I saw (in a dream), two men come to me one standing and the other sitting. He saw the sitting person, who is the liar, his cheek being torn away (from the mouth to the ear) by the standing person. This is because of he used to tell lies, and the people would report those lies on his authority till they spread all over the world. So he will be punished like that till the Day of Resurrection.

Truthfulness will bring nothing but goodness. It puts the comfort and peace in your heart and it will save you from many troubles even though you think by mistake that lying can bring you peace and safety. You will benefit from being truthful in the hereafter as Allah the almighty said. The reward of being truthful, as Prophet said, is a house in the middle of paradise.