Trustworthiness

I seek refuge with Allah from the cursed Satan. In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.  All Prayers and Blessings of Allah be upon our master, the most noble Prophet Muhammad.  We praise Allah, thank Him, seek His help, guidance and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil in our souls and the sinfulness of our deeds.  “Whomever Allah guides, then he is right-guided, and whomever He leads away into error, then you will never find for him a right-minded patron” (TMQ, 18: 17)[1].

The manner we discuss today is, "trustworthiness".  A lot of people understand this manner in a rather shallow way.  One person might say, "I'm trustworthy. I can't take something that is not mine and if someone entrusted anything to me, I have to give it back.  This is how I've been brought up". Most of us have this conception about trustworthiness. However, I want now to tackle more comprehensive and profound meanings of it. 

Let us start with the ayahs and ahadith depicting this manner.  First of all, I want to ask you; what is the opposite of trustworthiness?  It is treachery; a manner hated by everyone.

Allah says what can be translated as, “O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger, and do not betray your deposits and you know that” (TMQ, 8: 27). In this ayah, Allah asks us to beware of betraying Him and of breaching the trust He gave us.  Who can ever believe that anyone can betray Allah?  And how can that be?  Actually, it can be by straying from His orders.  We are all entrusted with the orders of Allah. See how our concept for trustworthiness is getting broader and broader!

Believers are further asked not to betray the Prophet (SAWS)[2].  But how can that be? Knowing about your Prophet's Sunnah, then straying from it and not spreading it among people is considered a betrayal to the Prophet (SAWS).  Trustworthiness is, indeed, hard to attain!

Allah says what can be translated as, “Surely Allah commands you to pay deposits back to their qualified family (i.e. the owners)…” (TMQ, 4: 58).  In the coming paragraphs, we will learn about the various kinds of "deposits"; mind that the word is mentioned in the plural form.  We will also discuss the meaning of "their qualified family (i.e. the owners)".  Trustworthiness does not only mean paying back a sum of money or any other thing you have been entrusted with; rather it has a broader meaning.

Some Ahadith about trustworthiness:

Ibn-Majah states, "Five prayers, from one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer and rendering trusts are an expiation (of the sins committed in between their intervals)."[3] The same hadith was narrated differently by Abu-Huraira: "Five prayers and from one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer are an expiation (of the sins committed in between their intervals) if major sins are not committed." [4]

It was narrated by Ibada Ibnul-Samet that the Messenger of Allah said, "Guarantee for me to do six things and I shall guarantee for you paradise; be truthful if you speak, keep your word when you promise, render whatever you are entrusted with, protect your private parts (from sin), lower your gaze and do not harm anyone[5]". So, how many of those six do you do?

Allah's Messenger (SAWS) says, “Once Allah wants to perish a servant, He would remove Haia’(modesty) from him.  Once Haia’ is removed from him you’ll find him nothing but despicable.  Once you find him despicable, honesty is removed from him.  Once honesty is removed from him you’ll find him nothing but a treacherous person.  Once you find him nothing but treacherous, mercy will be removed from him.  Once mercy is removed from him you find him nothing but a damned and a cursed person.”[6]

Indeed, the meaning of the abovementioned hadith appears clearly in our daily lives.  We see a despicable person and once honesty is removed from him, he becomes treacherous!  Never ever to be one of those persons. Those defects are but a chain; one leads to the other.  Among the lengthy ahadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) is one talking about intercession.  In it, the Prophet (SAWS) talks about the people's passage over the sirat[7] on the Day of Judgment.  Once a person starts his way on the sirat, trustworthiness and kin-ties appear before his eyes incarnate.  They are actually sent by Allah to stand on both sides of the sirat.  "Did you render what you owe me?" asks trustworthiness.  So, you will be asked this question before passing on the sirat.

Hence, stick to your faith; if you didn’t do, you would be disloyal to both Allah and His Messenger (SAWS).  O sister, do you know that by not wearing Hijab[8] you are being disloyal to the Prophet (SAWS)?  And you brother, do you know that you are being disloyal to him too when you do not care about performing your prayers in the mosque?  Allah says what can be translated as, “O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger, and do not betray your deposits while you know that” (TMQ, 8: 27).  So, you are being disloyal when you do it knowingly and not out of ignorance.

As narrated by Abu-Huraira, the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: "Three are the signs of a hypocrite: when he speaks he tells a lie, when he makes a promise he acts treacherously against it, when he is trusted he betrays.[9]"  These signs are not of the hypocrites who were present during the time of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), like Abdullah Ibn-Saloul. These signs are pertaining to manners; a far more dangerous type of hypocrisy.

Mind that Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) did not say that the hypocrite is the person who does not perform his prayers or something of the sort. He just identified the three abovementioned signs of hypocrisy. If a person had one of them, he should try hard to get rid of it. Anas Ibn-Malek reported, "Rarely would Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) give a speech without saying these words, 'There is no faith for he who lacks trustworthiness and there is no religion for he who can't keep a vow."[10].  This hadith is extremely alarming!  Does this mean that an untrustworthy person has no faith?  Of course not.  It means that unless he becomes trustworthy, his faith will never be complete, no matter how submissive he is in his prayer or how bitterly he cries out of remorse or how many times he goes for Hajj or Umrah.

I'm trying to gather as much ahadith as I can, in an attempt to awaken the true meaning and value of trustworthiness within your souls.  Let us all vow to Allah that we will never betray or be disloyal, no matter what.

Abu-Huraira narrated, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) said: “Pay the deposit to him who deposited it with you, and do not betray him who betrayed you”[11].  There are no midways when it comes to being trustworthy.  Consider the example of someone who borrows from you three thousand pounds, then betrays you and refuses to pay them back to you.  Then it happens that another person entrusts you to deliver another three thousand pounds to that same person who betrayed you. What would you do then?  Do you think it would be your right to take this sum of money as compensation?  Would you betray him because he once betrayed you?  Certainly it is not your right to do so.  You should deliver to him his money then ask him for your money.  Brothers and sisters, this is a strict Islamic law.

When the Muslims decided to emigrate from Makkah to Madinah, the disbelievers of Quraysh confiscated all their money and wealth. The Muslims were evicted from their homes owing nothing but the clothes they were putting on.  However, still Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) paid to the disbelievers all their deposits back.  Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibnul-'Aas reported that Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) said, "If you have these four qualities you won't have to care about anything that you've missed in this world.  These qualities are; keeping what you were entrusted with, being truthful in your talk, having good manners and eating out of good money"[12].

Hence, it was never a matter of coincidence, that the two most prominent characteristics in the personality of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), even before the revelation, were truthfulness and trustworthiness.  Why?  Because of their high value, especially before the revelation.

At the end of the farewell Hajj for Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) he said, "O Allah! Be witness (for it). So it is incumbent upon those who are present to convey it (this message of mine) to those who are absent because the informed one might comprehend what I have said better than the present audience who will convey it to him.)"[13].

O sister, do you remember that particular bracelet which you have borrowed from your friend, and have never returned till now?  And you brother, do you remember that T-shirt which you too have borrowed from your friend and have never returned?  See how Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) has stressed this point!  In one of the Prophet's ahadith, he said to a Bedouin who asked him about Doomsday, "When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday)"[14].  Can you imagine this!  It's one of the signs of Doomsday.  Honesty appears here as a natural law, like the sun, the moon and the sky!  Once the sun and the moon disappear, then Doomsday quickly follows.  Similarly, when trustworthiness is lost, then know that Doomsday is coming close. In the same Hadith, "The Bedouin said, "How will that be lost?" Prophet Muhammad said, "When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday)".

Types of Trusts:

Money and Deposits:

It is narrated on the authority of Jabir that he heard Prophet Muhammad saying: "A Muslim is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe"[15].  To know if you have true faith or not, turn your eyes around and see if people trust you or not.  The more people trust you for their money, lives, and honor, the truer the faith you have.

Before he starts his hijra (the migration from Makkah to Madinah) journey, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) cared very much for returning the deposits he had to their owners!  He left Ali Ibn Abu-Taleb behind so he would return all the deposits; he asked him not to follow him to Madinah unless he finishes that job.  Despite the fact that the disbelievers in Makkah were so keen on killing Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), still he was so insistent on returning all their deposits.  Can you see now the extent to which you, as a Muslim, are asked to be trustworthy?

When Omar Ibnul-Khattab (RA)[16] conquered the city of Al-Mada'en, it was full of the treasures of Caesar and Kesra.  All these treasures where gathered and brought to Omar in the mosque.  When Omar (RA) entered the mosque, he found it filled with the treasures.  He could even find in the treasures the small rings and the tiny stones that fell of the jewelries.  Impressed by such situation, Omar cried and said, "Those who brought these treasures to me are indeed honest".  Indeed, they are.  They brought even the tiniest of stones that fell of the jewelries!  This is the true meaning of trustworthiness.

On the other hand, we often waste small trusts, even if unintentionally: cassettes, books, necklaces, notebooks…etc.  All of these are trusts.  What will you say to Allah when you meet Him and you have not returned to your friend the 50 cassettes you owe him?  What is worse is that the owner of one of those deposits might ask you for it on the Day of Judgment, though he had never did in his life!  In that case, you will have to pay him from your good deeds.  Hence, try hard to return any trust you have, be it big or small.

Honesty in Selling, Buying and Doing one's work:

Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) says, "The truthful and honest tradesman is with Prophets, truthful persons and martyrs in the Day of Judgment[17]". A merchant can, thus, be the companion of Prophets Musa (AS)[18] "Moses", Isa (AS) "Jesus" and Muhammad (SAWS) in paradise, only because of his honesty all through his life.

Nowadays, a doctor might ask his patients to do unnecessary x-rays or tests only because there are mutual interests between him and the x-ray labs.  By so doing, the doctor is actually betraying his patient.

The mechanic, who replaces parts of your car with new ones, though the old ones are still valid, is surely untrustworthy.  Those small points come all under the title "Trusts", though many of us do not consider them as so.

In brief, anyone who takes benefit of his job to achieve self-profit is an untrustworthy person. 

However, still there are some examples of trustworthy Muslims; the following two examples are enough proofs.  Firstly, consider the way Islam spread in Asia.  How did this happen?  Actually, it happened through trade.  An honest Muslim tradesman would go to Asia to buy and sell honestly.  He would reveal all the defects in his goods even if the buyer did not take notice of them.  People would then ask him about his religion and once he tells them it is Islam, they would embrace this religion.  Hence, a lot of the Asians reverted to Islam because of the honesty of some Muslim tradesmen.  Indeed, it was honesty that introduced Islam to Asia.

Keeping secrets

Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) says, "If a man talks to another, and he looks around him to make sure no one else hears what he says, then what he says is a trust"[19]. This means that if I was talking with you about whatever issue it be, then I turned to look around to make sure nobody else is listening, then what I am telling you is a secret that I am entrusting to you, even if I do not tell you so.  I do not have to tell you that it is a secret for it is normally understood form my low voice and my turning around that I do not want anybody else to listen.  Some would say, "He did not tell me that this is a secret. If he had told, I would have kept it".  However, the words of the Prophet (SAWS) were very clear in this respect. He says, "…and he turns his head to look around…"  Just by showing that he does not want anyone else to listen, then he is announcing that this is a secret.

Abu-Sa'id Al-Khudri (RA)[20] reported that Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said, "The most wicked among the people in the eye of Allah on the Day of judgment is the man who goes to his wife and she comes to him, and then he divulges her secret"[21].  We all see what happens when a man and his wife get divorced!  Endless scandals are spread all around.  By so doing, both parties are breaching their vows to Allah. Hence, on the Day of Judgment, they will be severely punished for it.  See how severe is the punishment of the divorced couple who are untrustworthy!  What will you say, then, of a married couple who are untrustworthy? A wife or a husband who reveals to a friend all his spouse's secrets is surely betraying him.  He or she is surely being disloyal to both Allah (AWJ)[22] and his or her spouse.  Beware! Untrustworthiness leads to destroying sincere family ties.

Trustworthiness with Women:

A lot of young men nowadays deal with women with bad intentions.  Consider the example of Musa (AS) "Moses" mentioned in the chapter of Al-Qasas. Allah (SWT)[23] says what can be translated as, "And as soon as he was within reach of the water (s) of Madyan, he found there a whole company (Literally: a nation of mankind) of the citizens watering, and he found, apart from them, two women keeping away (their flocks). He said, “What is your concern?” The two said, 'we cannot give (our flocks) to drink until the shepherds drive off; and our father is an aged (man), great (with years).'  So he watered (their flocks) for them. Thereafter he turned away to the shade..." (TMQ, 28: 23-24).  Then we see later how one of these girls said to her father, "… O my father, hire him; surely the most charitable (man) you (can) hire is the one powerful (and) trustworthy" (TMQ, 28: 26).

This story embodies the Islamic moderate way to deal with women. There should be a sort of balance in treating them. It stands in the middle between severe prohibition and over-intimacy.  Though Musa (AS) was the one to start the talk, he was so polite and lowering of his gaze.  "What is your concern?" he asked.  He did not chat or introduce himself; on the contrary, he was very brief and to the point.  The girls too replied briefly and politely.  He quickly watered their folks then "…he turned away to the shade…"  See how great the Qur'anic expression is!  "Turned away" shows how he was the one to be shy. He did not finish his job then kept loitering around.  Later, when talking to their father about Musa, the girls used the word "trustworthy".  This is actually because a woman, through her instinct, can judge the man dealing with her.  From his eyes she can get to know how far he is honest with her; how far he preserves her dignity.  Keep in mind this example when dealing with any woman.

Trustworthiness with Wives:

Under this subtitle, I seek to address the husband who thinks that by marrying a woman he has owned her and that he has the right to mistreat her: Have you been trustworthy with your wife? Do you know that this is one of the trusts Allah will ask you about? Have you forgotten about the marriage contract between you two?  Have you forgotten that signing this contract, you have legitimately accepted to have this woman entrusted to you? Allah says what can be translated as, "…and they have taken from you a solemn pact?" (TMQ, 4:21).   This pact is the pact of marriage and it is the only pact that is described by Allah as being "solemn".  This Solemnity stems from a man's responsibility towards his wife; a responsibility he is entrusted with by Allah firstly and by her father secondly.

A husband who is used to beating his wife, as well as a husband who prevents his wife from visiting her parents, is surely being untrustworthy.  Her parents have entrusted her to you and so you have to be up to it.  Many husbands think that by allowing their wives to visit their parents they are doing them a favor!  On the contrary, it is her and her family's full right in Islam. On the other hand, a wife is also entrusted with her husband's honor.  She should not allow a stranger into his home when he is not there, except those whom he allows her to.  She should be obedient to him and should work hard to bring up his children in the way he likes.

Children's Trustworthiness:

Young men or women who take money from their parents behind their back are being untrustworthy.  They are surely betraying their parents however small the sum of money is.    Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, "…and come up to the homes by their doors…" (TMQ, 2: 189).  Hence, a girl who makes a relation with a man behind her parents back is betraying them.  Similarly, a boy who makes a relation with a girl behind her parents' back is betraying this girl's parents.  On the Day of Judgment, the girl's parents will complain to Allah about it.  So what if that girl was the boy's neighbor?  Surely, the punishment will be harder.

Anas Ibn-Malek said, "Take care!  You commit sins and consider them as small and thin as a hair thread, while we used to consider them among the deadly sins at the time of the Prophet (SAWS)."  Listen to Allah's words, "…and you reckoned it was a simple thing, and in the Reckoning of Allah it is a tremendous thing" (TMQ, 24: 15).

So, let us extend our definition a bit and say, "Trustworthiness is to preserve all the blessings that were granted to you by Allah". Your fortune and your family members are but trust that should be paid back.

Your children are a trust.  So, have you brought them up well?  Don't say, "Surely, I have did. I have spent a lot of money on them"; because actually this is their sustenance.  Your true job is to bring them up according to the teachings of Islam.

Your health, isn't it a trust? O you smokers, aren't you betraying the trust?  Don't tell me that smoking has not yet been proven haram (forbidden) and that it is just a hateful habit.  Even if, don't you think that doing that hateful habit 20 times a day is equal to committing a least one haram deed? You have to know that health is a trust. By not caring for your health, you are being untrustworthy.

Aren't your eyes considered a trust?  So, when you look at haram, aren’t you betraying this trust?  Your tongue, isn't it a trust?  And you sister, isn’t your beautiful face a trust? Your hair, isn't it a trust too?  Shouldn't you keep it by covering it?  Didn't Allah order you to cover your hair, your arms and your legs?  I want you to keep all the trusts Allah has given you because you will be asked about them.

Actually, I am not exaggerating.  Listen to this Hadith for Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), “A servant of Allah will remain standing on the Day of Judgment till he is questioned about his age and how he spent it; and about his knowledge and how he utilized it; about his wealth from where he acquired it and in what (activities) he spent it; and about his body as to how he used it.”[24]

The Trust of Protecting Islam:

Indeed, this is the greatest trust of all. You are responsible for Islam as you will be asked about it on the Day of Judgment.  Do you really recite the Qur'an? Do you attend those lessons instructing you about your religion? Do you work on guiging your dear ones to the path if Allah?  Ibn-Taymiah said, "Don't think that trustworthiness is in doing ablution with a gallon of water, then praying in the pulpit.  Trustworthiness is in carrying this religion and conveying it to others".

Allah says what can be translated as, "You have been the most charitable nation brought out to mankind: you command beneficence, and forbid maleficence, and believe in Allah" (TMQ, 3: 110).  So why are we considered the most charitable nation brought out to mankind?  It is actually because we command beneficence and forbid maleficence.  Yet, by what means are you considered a member of this Ummah? Have you really born the responsibility of this religion upon your shoulders? Don’t ever think that it is the responsibility of religion scholars only. Indeed, you too share in it. You are responsible for passing those very words you hear from me to your friends, your fiancée, your father…etc.  You should do so in the most polite and tender way. Islam is the responsibility of each and every Muslim. Thus, each and every Muslim will be asked about it on the Day of Judgment.

Now, you know the various types of trusts and how everything in your life is considered a trust.  It is such a heavy burden, isn’t it?  Then listen to Allah's words, "Surely We presented (Literally: set before) the Trust (i.e., Trust of devotion) to the heavens and the earth and mountains. Yet they refused to carry it and felt timorous about it, and man carried it. Surely he has been constantly unjust, constantly ignorant" (TMQ, 33: 72).   An ayah we have all heard a lot before.  The heavens, the earth and the mountains refused to bear the trust because it is too heavy!  It is far enough that all the blessings Allah has bestowed upon you are considered trusts; your religion, your wife, your wealth… etc.

Allah (SWT) further says what can be translated as, "Allah may torment the male hypocrites and the female hypocrites, and the male associators and the female associators, (i.e., those who associate others with Allah) [Those who betray the trusts they have] and that Allah may relent towards the male believers and the female believers; and Allah has been Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful [Those who accept the responsibility and keep the trust according to Allah's will]" (TMQ, 33: 73).

I hope that your concept of trustworthiness has now broadened and that you will be more careful about keeping your trusts. May Allah help us all to keep what we are entrusted with. 

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