In the name of Allah[1], the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful. All Prayers and Blessings of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad. We praise Allah, thank Him, and 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[2], 18:17).

Truthfulness is a trait that is associated with prophets. Whenever Allah (AWJ [3]) praises a Prophet in the Qur’an, Allah describes him as truthful and sincere. “And mention in the Book Ibrahim (Abraham); surely he was most sincere, a Prophet” (TMQ, 19:41). “And mention in the Book Idris (Enoch); surely he was most sincere, a Prophet” (TMQ, 19:56). “And mention in the Book Shu'ayb; surely he was sincerely (true) to his promise, and he was a Messenger, a Prophet” (TMQ, 19:54).

Therefore, we notice that truthfulness was a character trait associated with prophets to a degree approaching perfection and was not doubted for a moment. It is thus a defining characteristic of the Prophet (SAWS[4]).

The Prophet (SAWS) was known among his people and tribe as “the truthful and honest,” even before the revelation. After the revelation, he was also known among his friends and followers as “the truthful and truly-inspired”.

This was to the extent that, three years after the revelation, he once climbed Mount Safa when he was ordered to go public with his da’wah (call for Islam): “So profess openly what you have been commanded and veer away from the associators (Those who associate others with Allah)-”(TMQ, 15:94).

He ascended the mount and his speech was almost unbelievable. This was to test how much people believed in him. He gathered all the tribes and asked them, "Suppose I told you that there was an (enemy) cavalry in the valley intending to attack you, would you believe me?”

Whoever has made Hajj[5] or “Umrah[6] knows that Safaa is a low hillock. It would have been easy to see the cavalry, had they been actually behind the mount. "Yes,” they said, "for you have never told us anything but the truth." He then said, "I warn you of a severe punishment”

Even when Abu Lahab stood up to reply, he could not accuse him of being a liar. Instead, he said, “Damn you, is that why you gathered us?” So, do you see how solidly rooted this trait is in the Prophet (SAWS)?

After the revelation, he was known as the truthful and truly-inspired. Abdullaah Ibn-Mas“ood (RA[7]) narrated that Allah's Apostle, the truthful and truly-inspired, said that one is formed in his mother’s womb for forty days, then he becomes a clot for another forty days, and then a piece of flesh for another forty days.

Such concepts were not witnessed by the Prophet’s companions as we witness them nowadays with scientific development and the ultrasound scanning device, which can determine the age of the fetus. When one of the companions narrated the hadith[8], he said, “We were told by the truthful and truly-inspired,” and they actually believed what the Prophet had said.

Today we are talking about a genuine characteristic of prophets; a characteristic that is associated with them, especially the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS). Imagine if it had turned out that one of the prophets had lied, even once; would he be believed afterwards in his mission?

Even Allah (AWJ) does not deal with us except in truthfulness. Allah (AWJ) says what can be translated as, “Allah, there is no god except He. Indeed He will definitely gather you on the Day of the Resurrection; there is no suspicion about it. And who is more sincere in discourse than Allah?” (TMQ, 4:87). And He also says, “And the ones who have believed and done deeds of righteousness, We will soon cause them to enter Gardens from beneath which rivers run, eternally (abiding) therein forever; the promise of Allah (is) truly (binding) and who is more truly sincere in his blissful saying than Allah? (TMQ, 4:122).

Do you truly believe in the Day of Judgment and Jannah (Paradise)? And who is more sincere than Allah? So, if you truly believe in Jannah, where is your preparation for it? Are you ready for that Day of Judgment? And if you believe in hellfire, where is your fear of it?

You will notice many words which are derived from “truthfulness” which you do not usually notice. For example, the word sadeeq (friend) is derived from sidq (truthfulness), because a friend is that person who is sincere in his dealings with you and would never betray you. Also, don’t be astonished; sadaqah (charity) is also derived from sidq because it is the proof of your fundamental truthfulness before Allah.

The Importance of truthfulness and the Prophet’s hadiths about truthfulness:

The Prophet (SAWS) instructed us to do the following to be truthful for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to jannah (paradise). He said that a man who keeps on telling the truth and actively seeks truthfulness will be written before Allah as one of the strictly veracious. Beware of falsehood. It leads to immorality, and immorality leads to hellfire. While a man who keeps on telling lies and actively seeks falsehood will be written before Allah as a consistent liar."

How would you like to be written before Allah? Imagine that it is possible for someone among us to be written before Allah as a liar and to be gathered on the Day of Judgment as such. He would read his Book of Deeds and would find himself described before Allah as a liar; even the angels would know that he was a liar.

Conversely, any ordinary person, possibly a student or a woman who maintains truthfulness in her home and on the Day of Judgment, may be called a ‘truthful person’.

“Truthfulness leads to righteousness” The Prophet (SAWS) chose the word “yahdi” (leads) to show that “truthfulness” is what guides you by the hand to Jannah; however, if you lie, lying will take you to hellfire.

And look at the word “yataharra” (persists) used in the above hadith. “Yataharra” means to observe accuracy in your truthfulness; in order to ensure that you do not make even a little lie.

“Falsehood leads to al-Fujur (wickedness, evil-doing)” He also chose the word “fujur” because it is descriptive of all kinds of evil-doings, as if lying causes all evil.

The Prophet (SAWS) says that if a person guarantee six things on his part then he shall guarantee jannah (paradise): Speak the truth when you talk, keep a promise when you make it, fulfill the trust with which you are entrusted, safeguard your private parts (from immorality), lower your gaze (in modesty), and restrain your hands (from doing injustice).

Similarly, the Prophet said that we ought to replace that which you doubt for that which you do not doubt; for it is the truth that brings peace of mind, and it is falsehood that brings uncertainty.

It is as if the Prophet (SAWS) is expressing his inner thoughts. As you ponder this hadith, how do you feel? Relieved and assured, right? You do not feel worried. You do not feel hesitant? Your face does not change color remembering your lies? This hadith teaches us that that whenever we deal with a truthful person, we feel assured. However, whenever you deal with a lying person, you become worried. You do not know what he will do. You do not trust him.

Imagine if the whole society were permeated with lying. How worried would we become? And vice-versa, if the society was filled with mercy and truthfulness, and people felt secure towards one another, then that society would be filled with trust.

Indeed as the Prophet said; it is great treachery that you should tell your brother something and have him believe you when you are lying. Suppose you talk to your friend and he believes you while you are lying to him. Then, you say to your friends, “He is an idiot; he believed me”. If he is an idiot, then you are deceitful before Allah (AWJ). So, do not become upset when an equally underhanded person does the same to you.

The companions of the Prophet (SAWS) say that no manner was more hateful to the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) than lying. If a man amongst them had lied to the Prophet (SAWS), he would keep it deep within himself (regarding the lie) until he knew that the man (who lied) had repented. Those who love the Prophet (SAWS) and wish to be loved by him, and those who praise him because they know that now he responds to them, do you wish to be detested by the Prophet (SAWS); because he detests lying?

1) When you lie, imagine that the Prophet’s (SAWS) attitude has changed towards you and he has become upset with you.

Do you realize that lying can be deleted from the record of your actions and that Allah will be pleased with you if you simply repent from lying?

Some scholars believe that the prevalence of lying is a sign of the hour (Day of Judgment). Scholars also say that whoever keeps on lying will end up committing a major sin.

Why is lying considered a sign of the hour? Because the universe is based on a genuine human characteristic: righteousness.

“Allah created the heavens and the earth for just ends, and in order that each soul may find the recompense of what it has earned...” (TMQ, 45:22)

What corrupts righteousness? The primary way to destroy the truth and lead to falsehood is by lying. Imagine that lying spreads and spreads until kindness becomes detested, goodness becomes evil, and righteousness becomes falsehood. Then truth is destroyed and crushed to the extent that people do not know where the truth lies. Then, the Hour takes place. The skies and earth will be gone because the foundation, righteousness, is gone. Therefore, a sign of safeguarding the earth is people remaining truthful and believing in righteousness and denying falsehood. If this applies, then you know that life on earth will continue.

This is why we say that there still remains great hope in our countries and nations because people still believe in the truth, recognize it, and value it.

Because lying prevails on the tongue until you believe yourself deep inside and believe that you are right. You may even insist on your opinion even though you know you are wrong; this is the first stage. In another stage, lying becomes part of your normal actions. All your behavior and habits become lies. You then commit major sins because you cheat and shatter all prohibitions. This is why lying opens the door to major sins.

For instance, tell a person to commit all sins except lying. If a girl is seeing a boy behind her parents’ back, don’t ask her to break up with him, just ask her to stop lying. After punishments and reproaches from her family, there is no way for her to proceed with this relationship except through lying to her family. Or, she would have to end this relationship. What would you say if you came home late one night from an event that was sinful and we asked you not to mention it until your father asked you where you were?

In other words, if you want to close the door to major sinful behaviors, the first thing you should do is stop lying. You will suffer in the beginning but afterwards, you will prefer to leave all sins and mischief so that you won’t have to lie. Do you see how valuable truthfulness is?

Even Allah (AWJ) classifies people into two kinds: truthful and hypocritical. In His words, which can be translated as, “That Allah may recompense the sincere ones for their sincerity, and torment the hypocrites, in case He (so) decides, or relents towards them. Surely Allah has been Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful” (TMQ, 33:24). What do you think brought the description of hypocrites into this context? Shouldn’t it have been the description of liars? The reason is that a liar would eventually become a hypocrite.

That is why truthfulness is the foundation of faith and lying is the foundation of hypocrisy, and that is why it is not possible that you combine both faith and lying in your heart; one of them has to expel the other.

Allah (AWJ) says what can be translated as, “And on the Day of the Resurrection you will see the ones who lied against Allah, their faces blackened; is there not in Hell a lodging for the proud?” (TMQ, 39:60).

Allah (AWJ) calls out on the Day of Judgment, “This is the Day the sincere ones will profit by their sincerity” (TMQ, 5:119).

Even if telling the truth leads you to troubles in this life, it will profit you on the Day of Judgment and you will be optimistic when you hear that call.

Allah (AWJ) says about his prophets, what can be translated as, “And as We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you and from Nuh, and Ibrahim, and M‍usa, and Isa, son of Maryam. (Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, son of Mary respectively) And We took from them a solemn covenant” (TMQ, 33:7). The beginning of the ayah[9] was talking about prophets, about how they will be questioned concerning their truthfulness. So, how will liars be questioned about their truthfulness? If Musa, Isa, Nuh, and Muhammad will be questioned about their truthfulness, how will you fare?

Do not be amazed about the value of truthfulness. As we said, it is the foundation of the heavens and earth; if it disappears, the Hour is imminent.

The Prophet (SAWS) tells us about shafaa“ah (intercession) where he talks about a long wait on the Day of Judgment. Those who were liars will be in a tough situation, since the people will stand naked and shoeless for five thousand years as the sun gets closer to their heads. Out of extreme distress, the unbelievers ask Allah (AWJ) to save them from this situation, even if it means to be placed in Hellfire.

All of humanity, in millions and billions, will go to each of the prophets asking for intercession to begin their Judgment (thus ending the painful wait), until the Prophet (SAWS) says “I am the one for it, I am the one!” He will fall down in prostration to Allah (AWJ) and then he will be addressed, “'Raise up your head (O Muhammad)! Ask, and your request will be granted, and speak, and your speech will be heard; intercede, and your intercession will be accepted.'”

I am telling this story because the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) (Abraham) is among the prophets approached by humanity in that situation. They will call him: “O, Khalil Al-Rahman (close friend of The Most Merciful)! O father of prophets, intercede for us with Allah”. And he will reply: “Myself! Myself! I am not fit for this undertaking. I lied three times…” and he will mention his lies and ask them to go to Musa (Moses) (AS) [10]. One of these lies was when he said it (destroying the idols) was done by the biggest idol in the incident of destroying all the idols.”

He considers it a lie, even though it was just covering for the truth. He did it to prove to the unbelievers that they were wrong, but he was a truthful man, whose soul dreaded any lie. He felt it was a major lie that would prevent him from interceding. What about a person who arrives on the Day of Judgment with a life full of lies? The problem is that his soul does not dread the enormity of lying.

Describing this kind of person who is accustomed to lying, Allah (AWJ) says that they will arrive on the Day of Judgment and lie to Allah (AWJ). Imagine! “Then will they have no deception save that they will say: By Allah, our Lord, we never were idolaters. Behold! How they lie against their own souls! But the (lie) which they invented will leave them in the lurch.” (TMQ, 6:23-24). Having been accustomed to lying, they reach the extent to falsely avow by Allah, in front of Allah (AWJ). So, Allah (AWJ) says that they have lied to themselves and not to Allah.

For fear of falling into trouble: This is the main reason among people. For example, if a wife watches TV all day and her husband comes back home and asking for food, a problem will arise if she tells the truth. So, she lies (e.g. there was a problem with the stove…). The reason here is to get out of the awkward situation by presuming that the lie will save me from the consequences.

Isn’t that the most common reason most of us lie? For example, a student fails the exam. He did not study. His father wants to know the grades but the son cannot tell him the truth, so he says that he passed. Then the father is surprised to know after four years that his son had failed. Or consider an employee who did not complete his job properly and consequently, lied to his boss.

The problem is that you think a lie can save you. Had you known that what you did would get you into more severe trouble, and that the person you are trying to appease will be angrier just as Allah (AWJ) will be angry with you, what would be your attitude? Allah (AWJ) will expose all lies. Would you lie and save yourself from the momentary difficulty and later be exposed so that your position becomes more dire? Or would you be truthful and endure the punishment, yet be known as a truthful person?

The Prophet (SAWS) says that we ought to faithfully seek the truth even if you think it will incur annihilation on you for truly all salvation is within it.

He also tells us in a beautiful hadith (if truly authentic) that wise men say that if truthfulness is placed on a wound, it will heal. Hence, if you sin and are injured by it, truthfulness will heal it. Sometimes a remedy is painful to the wound but, in the end, it heals.

Omar Ibnul-Khattab said, “If truthfulness places me in a subordinate position – and it rarely does—that would be better for me than being elevated by lying, and it rarely does”. It is thus better to look bad in front of people yet remain truthful than to look good in front of people as I lie.

Omar Ibn Abdul-Aziz said, “By Allah, I have never lied once since I knew that lying demeans its people”.

Junaid said, “Genuine truthfulness is to be truthful in a situation whereby nothing will save you except lying”. This is the greatest kind of truthfulness: to be truthful in a situation in which you are sure that lying would save you.

I will tell you a story that happened during the time of the Prophet: The Prophet (SAWS) went out during the Battle of Tabuk with thirty thousand of his companions. It was very hot in August and the distance was far (approximately one thousand kilometers). Before leaving, the hypocrites began taking leave from the Prophet (SAWS). However, there were three of his truthful companions who failed to set out with the troops, among whom was Ka“b Ibn-Maalik, who narrates this story. He says that every passing day he would say “I will follow them tomorrow, I will follow them tomorrow,” until they reached a distance he could not catch up with them. He kept walking around Madinah finding no one but the hypocrites until the Prophet (SAWS) finished the battle and came back. He said, “When the Prophet (SAWS) returned, my extreme sorrow haunted me. What would I tell him? And how would I avoid his wrath tomorrow?”

Isn’t that what happens to you? And whose wrath is it that you fear? Your father’s? Your mother’s? Your husband’s? What if it were the Prophet (SAWS)? So he says, “I kept bringing to mind all sorts of lies and choosing the one that the Prophet would believe most and would forgive me”. Isn’t that what happens to you?

He continues narrating, “So, when the Prophet returned, deceit abandoned me and I decided to be truthful to the Prophet”. Imagine if you were in this situation and you missed the jihad with the Prophet in the name of Allah.

“So, the Prophet came and sat inside the mosque. The hypocrites agreed to enter together and kept on asking for the Prophet’s forgiveness and swearing to him, ‘By Allah, such and such happened and that is what prevented us”. The Prophet accepted publicly but in his heart he asked forgiveness for them. He renewed the bay“ah (pledge of allegiance) with them and they happily departed. Ka“b Ibn-Maalik saw all that and he recognized that falsehood could not save him.

He said, “The Prophet looked at me and smiled an angry smile and said to me come over. So, I walked up and sat in front of him. The Prophet asked about what kept me behind and whether I had not yet bought a camel to carry me. I told him “O Prophet of Allah, if I sat before a worldly king, I would have come up with an excuse because I am skillful with words” (i.e. he could sweet-talk and lie). “But, O Prophet of Allah, if I tell you today something to appease you, Allah will make you angry with me. And if I tell you truthful words, you would be angry with me. I want the acceptance of Allah, so by Allah, O Prophet of Allah, I had no excuse (he swears) and I was never in a stronger or better condition than on that day”.

Can you do that with your father or with your boss at work? “I have no excuse!” Not in a proud way, no. Our master Ka“b never intended that either, but it was the truth. So, the Prophet says, “This one has said the truth, (which means that he knew that the others did not say the truth), Stand up, until Allah sends his decree.” Ka“b said, “I stood up and the Prophet forbad talking with us three for forty days and these increased to another ten days”. So, they remained for fifty days not being spoken to by the Prophet and any of his companions.

Does it mean that, because he said the truth, he should not be punished? No, the Prophet wants to teach us that you must be truthful and endure the consequences. Don’t say that if I am truthful my father will cut my allowance, so lying is better. No, be truthful and bear the consequences of you wrongdoings. And they remained like that “until, when the earth, spacious as it is, became straitened for them, and their souls became straitened for them” (TMQ, 9:118) as it was described in the Qur’aan in Surat At-Tawbah. Ka“b said, “After I left the Prophet, men from the tribe of Abu-Salamah from the Ansar told me, ‘You should have lied and found excuses like so and so. Didn’t you see that the Prophet has asked forgiveness for them and this erases what has passed?’”

He said, “This continued until I intended to go back to the Prophet and contradict myself!” He admits to the hesitations of his soul, and that is what happens with us. The situation remained that way; they were not spoken to until the tawbah (repentance) of these three was related in a Qur’aan that will be recited until the Day of Judgment. “Indeed Allah has already relented towards the Prophet…And to the three who were left staying behind,…O you who have believed, be pious to Allah and be with the sincere.” (TMQ, 9:117-119). So, be like Ka“b Ibn-Maalik and be truthful!

Let’s try to agree on being truthful. Let anything happen, it will pass like anything else, but you will be known among the people as a truthful person. Ka“b Ibn-Maalik says, “So, after the fifty days had past, I went to greet the Prophet at the mosque, and his face lit up with joy. We knew that if the Prophet smiled and was happy with something, his face would light up like the moon. The Prophet of Allah looked at me and I told him, ‘O Prophet of Allah, by Allah nothing saved me except truthfulness. Part of my repentance is to speak nothing but the truth from now on. By Allah, I never lied once since then, and I hope I will continue doing that until I die.’” Can we be like that?

The second reason for lying is gaining benefits, which can be in the form of fame, profit, leadership, money, social status, etc. This type of lying is worse, more evil than the first because it causes those who resort to it to fall into the pit of hypocrisy. They first start by cheating and end up by committing forbidden acts. Even shedding blood would be completely acceptable to them if they choose lying as a way of life, because lying alone is not enough to bring personal gains closer. Lying for personal interests is exactly what led Abu-Jahl astray. People assume that Abu-Jahl did not convert to Islam because he did not believe the Prophet (SAWS), but the fact is that he knew the Prophet (SAWS) was telling the truth.

Abu-Jahl revealed the reason behind this unreasonable hostility to one of his friends. When the Prophet (SAWS) talked to him about Islam, Abu-Jahl retorted, “You talked to me about it several times! I know you are a liar. I would have followed you if I thought you were not.” After the Prophet walked away disappointed, Abu-Jahl said, “By God, I know that he is not a liar, but I cannot simply join him; my tribe and his (Bani Makhzoom and Bani Hashim) have always competed against one another. They took the responsibility of providing water for the pilgrims, so we took the responsibility of providing assistance. We host many with food and drink exactly as they do. Now that we are of an almost equal status, they say that amongst them is a prophet! That is too much to compete with!” The friend to whom Abu-Jahl was speaking revealed the story later after he embraced Islam. However, Abu-Jahl preferred to lie in the present life to protect his interests and be at the bottom of hell in the hereafter.

The third reason for lying is to harm others, either because of a grudge or because of envy or dislike. For example, a person who bears a grudge against another would lie to make trouble for that other person or to take his/her position. People should think twice before they allow their feelings to wreck other people’s lives. Spreading a rumor about someone can earn one a seventy-year-long fall into Hell.

A person might lie just for the sake of lying. This type of lie is simply inexcusable. The Prophet (SAWS) was asked whether a believer could be cowardly to which he replied that it was possible. He was also asked whether a believer could be miserly, and he replied affirmatively. Last, he was asked whether a believer could be a liar and he replied that a believer can not be a liar. Hence, one can be pardoned for a moment of cowardice or miserliness, but never for blatant dishonesty.

There are three types of truthfulness: truthfulness of intention, truthfulness of speech, and truthfulness of action.

Truthfulness of intention is devoting one’s deeds to Allah alone, without asking for a reward other than Allah’s satisfaction. For instance, one would study just to pass, or just because one must. However, if one studies with the intention to pleasing of Allah and one's parents by being an excellent Muslim student, a regular task would be turned into a form of worship, gaining by that the heavenly reward of Allah. Likewise, those who wish to be rich should wish for it intending to please Allah, spread his religion, and to set a good example of rich Muslims, so as to gain Allah’s reward for the intention. Getting married with the intention of creating an exemplary Muslim family secures the reward of the deed more than marrying simply because everybody gets married at a certain age.

The concept of truthfulness of intentions brings out the beauty of Islam as it reaches out to the hearts of people. People are rewarded for their sincerity and not for the sort of work they do. They could, while doing everyday chores, be gaining heaps of reward if they have the right intention in their hearts.

The Prophet (SAWS) said that whoever seeks martyrdom with sincerity will be ranked by Allah among the martyrs even if he dies in his bed.” Accordingly, the good intentions of an old woman or an adolescent could put them in the same class as Hamzah Ibn-Abdul-Muttaalib and Sumayyah (RA).

We all can wish for martyrdom sincerely and then achieve it even if we die in bed. Allah says what can be translated as, “…And when the matter (preparation for Jihad) is resolved on, then if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them.” (TMQ, 47:21). The Prophet (SAWS) once gave an example of a rich man who spends his money to please Allah and a poor man who wishes to be rich in order to do the good deeds the rich man does. The Prophet (SAWS) surprised everyone by revealing that both men get the same reward! If someone wishes he could build a mosque or spread Islam like those who can, one would get the reward exactly as if he were able to do those good deeds. The sincerity of intentions can bring about heaps of rewards.

Truthfulness of speech is the most widely known type of truthfulness of the three we are discussing here. The Prophet (SAWS) used to ask Allah for a truthful tongue, which is something ordinary people like us need to ask Allah for all the time. There are different kinds of truthfulness in speech:

The Prophet (SAWS) instructs us to abstain from narrating (anything) about him except what you know (for certain), for whoever (intentionally) ascribes to him what I have not said then (surely) let him occupy his seat in hellfire, and whoever speaks about the Qur’an on the basis of his own opinion (without knowledge), then (surely) let him occupy his seat in hellfire. This warning mentions two important aspects of truthfulness:

- Truthfulness in the speech of Qur’an: No one is allowed to interpret an ayah according to his/her own views. For instance, some explain the ayah decreeing hijaab (veil) as if it were addressed to the wives of the Prophet (SAWS) only, and not to all women, as the great majority of Muslims understand it.

- Truthfulness in speech of the Prophet’s (SAWS) hadith: If one is not sure of the narration of a hadith, he should say, “as X narrated” or “if this narration is true.”

- Truthfulness in trade: The Prophet (SAWS) says that the merchant who strives to achieve the utmost truthfulness and trustworthiness is among the Prophets, the ones constantly sincere and the martyrs.

Moreover, the Prophet (SAWS) once told a group of merchants that they are resurrected (amongst the) impious on the Day of Judgment, except for him who feared Allah, fulfilled his oath and spoke the truth.

He (SAWS) also said the buyer and the seller have the option (to cancel or to confirm the deal) as long as they have not parted or until they part. If they spoke the truth and told each other the defects of the item (sold), then their deal will be blessed; and if they hid (the truth) and told lies, then the blessing of the deal will be nullified.

Truthfulness in testimony: Testimony is a huge responsibility that should be taken seriously. The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said that the gravest of the major sins was to join partners in worship with Allah, and to be undutiful to one's parents. He also warned against giving a forged statement and false witness.

Lies are not all the same; the more people they harm, the more severe the punishment for them is. The Prophet (SAWS) said that he saw (in a dream) that two men came to him and said, ‘The one whose cheek you saw being torn away (from the mouth to the ear) was a liar and used to tell lies and the people would report those lies on his authority until they spread all over the world. Hence, he will be punished like that until the Day of Resurrection.

- Truthfulness in marriage: In marriage, everything should be clear from the beginning. One should reveal one’s marital status and health conditions among other things to the prospective spouse before any legal proceedings. Lying in such matters is by no means allowable.

- Truthfulness to children: There is a whole chapter in every book of Sunnah (the Prophet's traditions) solely to warn against lying to children. This is obviously because children tend to take after their parents. In such a family, lying would become similar to hereditary diseases. Parents who ask their children to lie for them actually train them to become professional liars without knowing it! The Prophet (SAWS) once heard a companion’s wife tell her son that if he comes to her she would give him “something.” The Prophet (SAWS) asked her what she was going to give him and the woman said that she was going to give him some dates. Relieved, the Prophet (SAWS) told her that had she not really intended to give her son something as she promised, she was going to be punished for her petty lie in the hereafter.

- Truthfulness of jokes, (a concept) which takes us by surprise. The Prophet (SAWS) joked with his companions, but he never had to lie. We can joke too, but we should avoid gaining sins by imagining that these lies are trivial. The Prophet (SAWS) guarantees a house on the sides of Paradise for a man who avoids dispute even if he were right, a house in the middle of Paradise for a man who avoids lying even if he were joking, and a house in the upper part of Paradise for a man who perfects his character.

- Truthfulness in inconsequent matters: The Prophet also warns us from the so-called “white lies” some of us unfortunately tell on a daily basis.

Allah says, what can be translated as, “And say (O Muhammad): ‘My Lord! Let my entry (to the city of Al-Madinah) be good, and (likewise) my exit (from the city of Makkah) be good; and grant me from You an authority to help me (or a firm sign or a proof)’” (TMQ, 17:80). The Prophet (SAWS) has prayed to Allah (SWT) to make his entry to or exit from any place guarded in truthfulness, away from any evil.

Allah says, what can be translated as, “Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah” (TMQ, 33:23). This ayah leads us to the conclusion that those who are true to Allah, are granted all that they ask for.

One of the men whose sincerity to Allah guaranteed them what they sought was ‘Umair Ibnul-Hamam. During the Battle of Badr, he asked the Prophet (SAWS) if he would go to Jannah (Paradise) if he were killed by the disbelievers during the battle. The Prophet replied that he definitely would. ‘Umair then, overjoyed, dropped a couple of dates he was going to eat saying, “Are these all that is between me and Jannah?! A life too long, indeed!” He rejoined the battle and was killed as he had hoped.

The Prophet (SAWS) put aside some of the spoils of the Battle of Khaibar for one of the new converts. The man (RA) was stunned, almost offended, when his share of the spoils was brought to him. He went to the Prophet (SAWS) and asked about it. The Prophet (SAWS) replied that it was his share of the booty. The Bedouin said that this is not why he believed in him and followed him; rather, he followed him so that I could be shot by an arrow right here, (and then he pointed to his throat) then die and enter Paradise. The Prophet (SAWS) told the man that if he was sincere then Allah will grant him his.” After a short while, fighting resumed and the Bedouin’s body was brought to the Prophet (SAWS) with an arrow in his throat at exactly the same spot where he had pointed to before to the Prophet (SAWS). Thereupon, the Prophet (SAWS) asked if it was the same man then said that since he was sincere, Allah granted him his wish. Then using his own garment, the Prophet (SAWS) shrouded the Bedouin and prayed the funeral prayer over him. This notion encourages those who have big dreams to do everything they can be truthfull with Allah and with themselves, because that guarantees them the fulfillment of their dreams.

“Abdullaah Ibn Jahsh (RA) prayed to Allah before the battle of ‘Uhud to help him kill two strong disbelievers and then send him a third who would kill him, slit his belly open and cut off his ears and nose and resurrect him on the Day of Judgment in his mutilated body so that when Allah asks him why this happened to him, he would reply, “I did it for you, Allah,” and Allah would tell him then that what he said was the truth. After the battle, Sa“ad Ibn Mu“ath (RA) walked up and down the battlefield looking for “Abdullaah’s body. He was stunned when he finally found “Abdullaah’s dead body with a split belly, cut-off ears and nose, and two dead bodies from the disbeliever’s troops lying next to it.

An African slave asked the Prophet (SAWS) during the Battle of Khaibar if leaving the Jewish tribes and fighting with the Muslim troops would allow him to go to Jannah. The Prophet’s (SAWS) positive answer puzzled the slave, so he asked, “Even with my black face, tattered clothes, and disgusting smell?” and the Prophet (SAWS) replied affirmatively. Later, the slave was killed and the Prophet (SAWS) ordered some men to take the dead body to his tent. There, the Prophet (SAWS) stood in front of the slave’s body and said that Allah made pleasant your unpleasant smell and made luminous your black face. The judgment of deeds is not based on looks or pedigree; rather, it relies on devotion and sincerity to Allah.

“Ali Ibn Abu Talib used to pray to Allah to grant him martyrdom after a long life spent in His cause; and that is what he was granted. Likewise, Omar Ibnul-Khattab asked Allah to grant him martyrdom within the borders of Madinah, which was quite a strange prayer as Madinah was the capital of Islam and fighting in it was not imaginable, but Allah still granted him his wish.

Similarly, Salahuddin used to say, “How can I laugh when the Aqsah mosque is besieged?” He was never seen laughing until he re-conquered it.

Truthfulness is not only in speech, but also in intention and action. Once you fulfill all three you are considered among the truthful, like Abu-Bakr who was called As-Siddeeq (confirmer of truth) for his unsurpassed correctness.

Allah says what can be translated as, “ And those who obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad), then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the siddiqun (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them, like Abu-Bakr As-Siddeeq), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!” (TMQ, 4:69). The sequence in the ayah means that the rank of the truthful (i.e. siddiqun) comes right after that of the prophets. The truthful are actually mentioned before the martyrs. That is because martyrdom can only be achieved by the truthful. A black slave attained martyrdom one day after embracing Islam because he was completely sincere.

2. Making peace: for example, one is allowed to tell each of the parties in dispute that the other says good things about them.

[1] The word Allah is the Arabic term for God. Although the use of the word "Allah" is most often associated with Islam, it is not used exclusively by Muslims; Arab Christians and Arabic-speaking Jews also use it to refer to the One God. The Arabic word expresses the unique characteristics of the One God more precisely than the English term. Whereas the word "Allah" has no plural form in Arabic, the English form does, and the word 'Allah' in Arabic has no connotation of gender. Allah is the God worshipped by all Prophets, from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.

[2] TMQ= Translation of the Meaning of the Qur'an. This translation is for the realized meaning, so far, of the stated (Surah:Ayah) of the Qur'an. Reading the translated meaning of the Qur'an can never replace reading it in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed.

[3] AWJ= Aza-Wa-Jal [Glorified and Sublime be He].

[4] SAWS= Salla Allah alayhe Wa Salam [All Prayers and Blessings of Allah be upon him].

[5] Hajj= The pilgrimage to Makkah during the first half of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, and is the fifth pillar of Islam.

[6] Umrah= Voluntary short pilgrimage that can be performed at any time of the year

[7] RA= May Allah be pleased with him/her.

[8] The Prophet’s actual sayings or actions as narrated by his companions.

[9] Ayah= Verse in the Qur’an.

[10] Authentic hadith reported by Muslim in al-Musnad as-Saheeh page/number 194, and narrated by Abu-Hurayrah (RA).

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