Checkout Friday Talks
faheemfb@gmail.com

Truthfulness 2

Written in Arabic by: Sk. Younis Salih.
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.

 

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

All thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. And peace and prayers be upon the messenger.

Allah says in His book: O you who believe (you who have faith), fear Allah and be with the truthful ones9:19. This verse from the Chapter of Tobah is one of the last verses to be revealed to the messenger (PPBU). This Chapter was brought down soon after the famous battle of Tabook.

Muslims then were in difficulty, drought and distress. There was extremely dryness, misfortune and heat. People were seeking shade and awaiting harvest to ripe. It is at that time when a call for Jihad is issued to go and face the Romans in their land. Muslims were almost competing in getting ready and giving support to the army. The only men stayed back were a hypocrite, or those excused by Allah from fighting, or three men who kept putting it off until it was too late to catch up with the moving army. Later on when the messenger (PPBU) returned they were honest and truthful about what happened. They did not lie as the hypocrites did. The hypocrites gave false excuses. Their stories were told in the Koran.

When one carefully thinks of this verse, and the occasion with which it was dealing with, one will notice an important issue that deserves much thinking. This verse addresses the believers to be with those who are truthful. That consequently excludes the hypocrites.

The when considering the believers, that included those who immigrated with the messenger (PPBU) and the supporters who supported the messenger and supported those who immigrated. It is those who are included in the group of truthful ones. That group also included those three men who stayed behind, but they adopted the truth about it and did not use lies for excuses as did the hypocrites. So, what is the important issue then? It is that for an individual to be amongst those who are truthful words are not enough. There is another side of truthfulness which is more than just being truthful in words. Allah says: It wouldn’t have been for the people of the Madina and its surroundings to stay back from mobilising with the Messenger, and would put themselves before him. This is just part of the description of those who are truthful. The most hurtful giving out which can be pointed to a truthful believer is to be told that he/she puts himself above what the Messenger (PPBU) himself was put through. Or put himself before the Messenger (PPBU). Or would feel petty for him self in facing something which the beloved Messenger himself has faced. If kind of statement and all the meanings it carries with it was used to address that group of people who Allah was pleased with, and they were pleased with Allah, in order to be with those who are truthful. Then would that not make us to look at ourselves and ask whether we are with those who are truthful?

A question fit for each of us to ask him self. But before we come up with the answer, just take your time to realize the reality of that truthfulness, and what are the characteristics of those included in that group; those with whom Allah commanded us to be. Many people think being truthful means merely to speak the truth. There is no doubt that speaking the truth is vital, but that is just one side of being truthful. One can not reach the status of truthfulness (Siddiq) unless all its requirements become part of the individual. The reality of truthfulness include the sincerity of the intention, and the will, and the sincerity of the words and the sincerity of the deed or action and the sincerity of the all matters. Ebn Taymia said that truthfulness is in words and deeds. 

The first corner stone of truthfulness is the sincerity of the intention and the will:

This means that the main incentive of all actions, deeds or refraining from doing an act is Allah; And also to have the inferiors of intentions and thoughts as the same as the exteriors shown in words and actions. If one spoken words differ to what is in his heart then this indicates lack of truth in the intentions. This is a feature of the hypocrites.

Also part of the truthfulness of the intention is being truthful in the resolve to do a deed if one gets the chance to do it. Part of that is for example for one to promise God to give to charity if God gives him money; Or for example to make a promise to keep up a worship act if God brings him to health after sickness. If the resolve to fulfill a promise to God becomes weak or hesitant then this becomes some type of lying and hypocrisy. Allah says: And there are those who make a promise or a covenant to Allah that if He favors us with riches we shall give charity and we shall be good. And when He brought them favors from Him they became stingy, they retracted their pledges with defiance. He consequently put into their hearts hypocrisy that shall remain till the day they shall meet Him with what they retracted from, and with what they promised Him and with what lies they had. Truthfulness also means to fulfill any promises or pledges one makes once one is able.

The second corner stone of Truthfulness is being truthful in the spoken words:

This is one of the greatest levels of truthfulness, and the harder to keep. This type of truthfulness has three pre-requisites:

1)     Being truthful in reporting events and news:

This of course will require certainty of what is being reported, and the avoidance of assumptions and doubts, imagination and delusions. Also beware from telling of everything one hears. The messenger (PPBU) said: {There is enough lying for and individual in just telling all that he hears}. He also said: {be warned against doubt. For doubt is the most lying of all speech}. What would be included into this category is condemning and talking falsely of scholars for the purpose of defaming them. Such criticism is taken up by others for truth and without rechecking its sources or its proofs. Allah say: : And when you address with your tongs and say with your mouths what you have no knowledge of. You think it is minor when with Allah it is major. When you hear it you ought to say “We should not talk of this; All praise is to you; This is great fabrication. Ebn el-Abbas said that means don’t say it (or don’t repeat it). And also don’t say things about others which you do not know. This type of truthfulness requires that a speaker should seek the truth in what they say before they say it. Also it requires that when one speaks to Allah is to consider the truth in what he or she say; such as to say: I am directing my face to the creator of the heavens and earth. If the person here has his or her heart busy with what this life offers of unacceptable impulses and animalistic instincts then he would be lying.

2)    Truthfulness in fulfilling a promise:

Whether the promise is in a specific place, or a specific time, or for a promise to donate something, or a marriage matter or anything for which a promise is made. Truthfulness in words necessitates fulfillment of the spoken word and never to be broken. Unfortunately; in reality we rarely find such truth in people, and very few people who care to maintain it.

3)    Truthfulness in keeping up contracts and treaties:

Whether it is a contract with Allah, or His messenger (PPBU), or with anybody else, respecting and keeping such contracts or treaties or agreements is a requirement of being truthful. And breaking them, is one of the requirements of being a liar or a hypocrite. Allah says: And keep up Allah’s covenant is you make one. And do not renege the pledges after they are verified a guarantor (or a sponsor) over you. Allah knows all that you do. Fulfilling a pledge made to Allah requires believing that worship is deserved by Him alone;  And accepting arbitration through His law alone. It also requires disbelieving in other gods. This is concept of truth in the testimony of: “No God But Allah” uttered by the faithful and the believers.

Also fulfilling the messenger’s promise requires living in his example, seeking it; and put and take his word before and above the word of any other human. This is the essence of the testimony that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. So, anyone who does not fulfill any part of that then they are a liar. Allah says in a reply to the statement made by hypocrites which says: We testify that you are the messenger of Allah; Allah says: : and if the hypocrites come to you and say we testify that you are the messenger of Allah, and Allah knows that you are His messenger, and Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars .

With regard to fulfilling a promise made to people; the Islamic law considers breaking it or betraying it is one of the worse types of lying. In fact betraying a promise made to any person is considered one of the corner stones of hierocracy. The characteristics of hypocrites were stated by the messenger (PPBU) when he said: {Four characteristics if they all are present in an individual then he or she is pure hypocrite. And one of those traits is in an individual then he or she has one of the traits of hypocrisy. If he talks then he lies. And if he makes a promise he breaks. And if he gives a pledge of peace or security he betrays. And if he disputes or goes into conflict; he cheats}. The messenger also said: {faith and disbelief will not be gathered in one human heart; and neither will being truthful and lying, nor neither will betrayal (treachery) and trustworthiness}

The third corner stone of Truthfulness is being truthful in the deeds or actions:

This requires that a human to strive with him self to have both his/her interior and exterior be the same. And that his or her acts should not indicate something internal which does not exist. Like some one who pretends to be obedient and god-fearing to Allah while the heart is not. Yazeed ebd Harith said: “if the interior is the same as the exterior for some one; then that is half the battle. And if his interior is better than his exterior; then that is even better. But if his exterior is better than his interior then that is paradise at its best”

The forth corner stone of Truthfulness is being truthful in the context of religion:

The highest and most glorified level is the truth in the heart. Truth, hope, love, contentment, certainty, putting full trust and confidence in Allah, and all similar matters are concepts which people vary greatly in acquiring or possessing. For example, any who believes in Allah and the day of judgment is certain to be fearful. But, it is not true fear with any realistic level, if it does not materialize when he or she commits something wrong or a sin. When; on the other hand if he becomes fearful of a ruler or a criminal; he goes pale in the face, trembles or restless in his daily life.

Look at those who fail to attend the Friday prayers; or may not even do prayers at all; don’t they all claim that they fear Allah the Lord of the worlds? And this who breaks the day Ramadan with no justification, doesn’t he claim that he fears Allah the Lord of the worlds? And this, who steals, cheats, deceives, commits adultery and deals with usury (or deals in interest); doesn’t each one of them claim that they fear Allah the Lord of the worlds? And all these women extravagantly showing their beauty, those who dress up to show more; don’t they claim that they fear Allah the Lord of the worlds? How many people claim to fear Allah and they show the opposite and absolute contrary of such claim. Allah says in the Koran talking to His messenger: And say to them: if you love Allah then follow me and Allah will love you.

Dear brothers and sisters, this is the reality of the truth and its foundations. It as we saw does not depend on merely talking the truth in words. That is just one of its corners. Allah says: Devotion (fidelity and loyalty) is not to direct your faces east and west, but devotion is this who believes and have faith in Allah and the day after. This is a clear indication that truthfulness is by both seen exterior acts and unseen interior acts. Allah also says: The believers (or the Faithful) are those who believe or have faith in Allah and His messenger; then they have no doubts, and they strive with their money and souls in the line of Allah. These are the truthful ones.

 

All thanks be to God.

 

Notes:

    1. Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Almadina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

    2. Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran.

    3. Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

    4. Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

    5. Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

    6. Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

    7. Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

    8. Hijra: the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

    9. Iman: belief or faith

    10. Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word.

    11. Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

    12. Madinah: A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to.

    13. Mekka: is the holiest city or Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Some say it was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers.

    14. Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

    15. Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

    16. PPBU: Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
    17. Qadr (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.

    18. Sunni: is a the title of  those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

    19. Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title used to call the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

    20. Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Kaaba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

    21. Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com