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The
Prophet As the Model for Truthfulness and Trustworthiness
By
Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
The
Prophet (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam) is known as the as-Sadiq
and al-’Alamin
(the Truthful and the Trustworthy).
People during his time, except the most arrogant
unbelievers among them, believed him as such.
The following Hâdîth for instance tells
us:
Ibn
Abbas (radhiallahu anhu)
narrated that when the Verse: "And warn your
tribe of near kindred.”
(26:214) was revealed, Allah’s Messenger (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam) went out, and when he had
ascended As-Safa mountain, he shouted, "O
Sabahah!" The people said, "Who is that?”
"Then they gathered around him, whereupon he said,
"Do you see? If I inform you that cavalrymen are
proceeding up the side of this mountain, will you believe
me” They said, “We have never heard you telling a
lie.” Then
he (sallallâhu ‘alayhi
wasallam) said, "I am a plain warner to you of a
coming severe punishment.”
Abu Lahab said, "May you perish! You gathered
us only for this reason?” Then Abu Lahab went away. So
the Surat: "Perish the hands of Abu Lahab!” (111:1)
was revealed.”
(Bukhari
6/495)
The
Prophet (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam) is known to have always told
the truth even when he joked with his Companions. In fact,
he even cursed those who make lies just to make people
laugh:
Abu
Hurairah (radhiallahu
anhu) narrated
that when they said, “Messenger of Allah, do you make
jokes with us!” He
(sallallâhu ‘alayhi
wasallam) replied, “I say nothing but the truth.” (Tirmidhi
4885)
Mu'awiyah
Ibn Jaydah al-Qushayri (radhiallahu anhu)
narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Woe to him who tells
things, speaking falsely, to make people laugh thereby.
Woe to him! Woe to him!” (Abu
Dawud 4972)
We,
the Du’ât should emulate the great Messenger of
Allah. We must fear Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) and
always tell the truth.
As Muslims, we are expected to be truthful and
trustworthy:
“O
you who believe! Fear
Allah and be with those who are truthful.”
(9:119)
“That
Allah will reward the people of Truth for their Truth, and
punish the Hypocrites if that be His Will, or turn to them
in Mercy; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
(33:24)
Abu
Hurairah (radhiallahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s
Messenger (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam) said,
“A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand the
Muslims are safe and a believer is one in whom people
place their trust in regard to their life and wealth.”
(Tirmidhi
33 and Nasa'i)
To
be truthful, we should equip ourselves with the knowledge
of the Truth. This
is one of the reasons why we need to seek correct
knowledge of Islam, as much as possible. We should always
be ready with whatever questions the non-Muslims will ask
about Islam. If
we do not know or are not sure of the answer(s) then we
have to be frank. We can delay the answer and ask somebody
who is knowledgeable (an Imam or a Muslim scholar)
to answer the question. Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) and
His Messenger (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam)
enjoin us to ask those who know:
“...
Then ask those who have been reading the Book from before
you...” (10:94)
“...If
you realize this not, ask of those who possess the
Message.” (16:43)
‘Abdullah
Bin Amr al ‘As (radhiallahu anhu) narrated that
Allah’s Messenger (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam) heard some people disputing
about the Qur’an. Thereupon
he said: “It was because of this that those gone before
you had perished. They set parts of the books against the
others (whereas the fact is) that the Book of Allah has
been revealed with one part confirming the others.
Therefore, do not falsify some parts with the others and
speak only that which you know; that which you do not
know, refer it to one who knows it well.”
(Tirmidhi
237, Ahmad and Ibn Majah)
We
should never attribute something that has no basis in the
Qur’an and the Sunnah to the Prophet (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam), or to Islam as a whole.
We should take admonitions from the following
warnings:
Ali
(radhiallahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallallâhu ‘alayhi
wasallam) said, “Do not tell a lie against me for
whoever tells a lie against me (intentionally) then he
will surely enter the Hell-fire.”
(Bukhari
1/106 and Ibn Majah 1/31)
Salama
(radhiallahu anhu) narrated that he heard the Prophet
(sallallâhu ‘alayhi
wasallam) saying, “Whoever (intentionally) ascribes to
me what I have not said then (surely) let him occupy his
seat in Hell-fire.” (Bukhari
1/109)
Wathila
bin Al Asqa (radhiallahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s
Messenger (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam) said,
“Verily, one of the worst lies is to claim
falsely to be the son of someone other than one’s real
father; or to
claim to have had a dream one has not had; or to attribute
to me what I have not said.”
(Bukhari
4/712)
Abdullah
ibn Abbas (radhiallahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s
Messenger (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam) said: Be mindful when
transmitting a Hâdîth from me. (Transmit) only that
which you know (very well) for he who intentionally lies
about me will find his abode in Hell-Fire.” (Tirmidhi
232)
There
are many Islamic teachings on truthfulness that should
inspire us to be truthful.
We can share them to non-Muslims.
Non-Muslims should know that we, the true Muslims,
adhere to truth for we are certain that Islam is the
religion of Truth. Islam
teaches truthfulness. It enjoys its followers to adhere to
truthfulness and refrain from lies as shown in the
following authentic teachings:
‘Abdullah
(radhiallahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Truthfulness leads to
Al-Birr (righteousness) and Al-Birr leads to Paradise. And
a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a Siddiq
(truthful person). Falsehood leads to Al-Fujur (i.e.,
wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fujur leads to the (Hell)
Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is
written before Allah, a liar.”
(Bukhari 8/116 and Muslim 4/6307-6310)
‘Abdullah
(radhiallahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger
(sallallâhu ‘alayhi
wasallam) as saying, “It is obligatory for you to tell
the truth, for truth leads to good deeds and good deeds
lead him who does them to paradise.
If a man continues to speak the truth and makes
truth his objective, he
will be recorded in Allah’s presence as eminently
truthful. Avoid falsehood, for falsehood leads to
wickedness and wickedness leads to hell. If a man
continues to speak falsehood and makes falsehood his
objective, he will be recorded in Allah’s presence as a
great liar.”
(Muslim
4/6309)
We
must include in our prayers that Allah will give us the
best character and manners, which include being truthful.
We should also avoid situations or things that will lead
us to make lies. One
of these is debt as the Prophet (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam)
warns us in the following Hâdîth:
‘Aishah
(radhiallahu anha) narrated that the Prophet (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam)
used to invoke Allah in the prayer saying, “O
Allah, I seek refuge with you from all sins, and from
being in debt.” Someone said, “O Allah’s Messenger!
(I see you) very often you seek refuge with Allah from
being in debt.” He
replied (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam), “If a person is in debt, he
tells lies when he speaks, and breaks his promises when he
promises.” (Bukhari
3/582)
In
everything we do, we must fear Allah and always tell the
truth. Telling
lies do great harms to us especially in the eternal world.
If we die without asking Allah’s
forgiveness and we are recorded in His presence as liars,
then we will have a terrible punishment in the Hereafter.
As much as possible, we must avoid telling lies.
We must take warning from the following Hâdîth:
Samura
bin Jundub (radhiallahu anhu)
narrated
that the Prophet (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam)
said, “I saw (in a dream) two men came to me.”
Then the Prophet (sallallâhu
‘alayhi wasallam)
narrated the story (saying), “They said, 'The
person, 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
till they spread all over the world. So he will be
punished like that till the Day of Resurrection.’” (Bukhari
8/118)
To
the non-Muslims who invent lies against Allah Subhanahu
wa Ta'ala,
it is our duty to warn them to refrain from their sheer
disbeliefs. They
should take lessons from the many clear Signs of Allah,
being the Only God worthy of our sincere worship and stop
associating partners with Allah Subhanahu
wa Ta'ala.
They should fear Allah’s curse and severe
punishment in the Hell-Fire:
“And
those who believe in Allah and His messengers they are the
Truthful and the martyrs in the eyes of their Rabb.
They shall have their Reward and their Light.
But those who reject Allah and deny Our Signs, they
are the Companions of Hell-Fire.” (57:19)
“Who
does more wrong than those who invent a lie against Allah?
They will be turned back to the Presence of their Rabb and
the witnesses will say, ‘These are the ones who lied
against their Rabb!’ Behold! The curse of Allah is on
those who do wrong!”
(11:18)
__________
Note:
Please
take note of the meaning of the following Arabic words
used in this article:
Subhanahu
wa Ta'ala – ‘The Exalted’
Sall-Allahu
‘Alayhi wa Sallam – ‘Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him’
Radia
Allahu
‘Anhu
– ‘May Allah
be pleased with him’, Radi
Allahu
‘Anha-
‘May Allah
be pleased with her’, Radi
Allahu
‘Anhum -
‘May Allah
be pleased with them.’
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