الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينة ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين

In my last talk, I discussed “The Key for the Most Valuable Treasure” and in it I indicated that about 2/3 of the Quran emphasizes moral conduct and that the Prophet (PBUH) spent more time teaching moral conduct than he spent explaining the Quran. I also presented 6 strategies that the prophet (PBUH) used for teaching his followers morality and virtues and these included: role model, competition for his love, stories, dialogue, him asking questions, and response to questions. 

I also presented the two axes of Islam to define the status of a Muslin in the metrics of monotheism and morality.

Out of all moral conducts, we note that Allah in the Quran and the Prophet (PBUH) in his teachings placed major emphasis on the importance of “truthfulness” and warning of the evil of “lying”.   The verses that you listened to are from Surat Al-Emran and they set an easy solution to any dispute in a fundamental matter of belief.   Rather than keep going back and forth in argument, the issue can be easily settled by proposing that to prove whether he or you are telling the truth is for you and him to make sincere supplication to Allah, the creator of the universe, to curse the one and the family of him who is lying. Allah sets this truth test by saying:

فَمَنۡ حَآجَّكَ فِيهِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ فَقُلۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ نَدۡعُ أَبۡنَآءَنَا وَأَبۡنَآءَكُمۡ وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمۡ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمۡ ثُمَّ نَبۡتَہِلۡ فَنَجۡعَل لَّعۡنَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلۡڪَـٰذِبِينَ (٦١)

“If someone argues with you over this matter after the knowledge has come to you, say (to him): Come! Let us call our children and your children, our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then let us pray humbly that the curse of Allah be upon the liars.” (Al-Emran 3:61)

Allah gives severe warning to those who utter lies about Allah, He says:

فَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّن ڪَذَبَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلصِّدۡقِ إِذۡ جَآءَهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ أَلَيۡسَ فِى جَهَنَّمَ مَثۡوً۬ى لِّلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (٣٢)

“Who is more unjust than the one who forges a lie against Allah and rejects the truth when it comes to him! Is there not in Hell an abode for the disbelievers?” (Al-Zumur 39:32)

On the other had Allah promises great rewards for those who are truthful and accept   the truth, Allah says:

وَٱلَّذِى جَآءَ بِٱلصِّدۡقِ وَصَدَّقَ بِهِۦۤ‌ۙ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَ (٣٣) لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ عِندَ رَبِّہِمۡ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ (٣٤) لِيُڪَفِّرَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡہُمۡ أَسۡوَأَ ٱلَّذِى عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِيَہُمۡ أَجۡرَهُم بِأَحۡسَنِ ٱلَّذِى ڪَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ (٣٥)

“And for the one who has come with the truth and believed in the truth, such people are the ones who are God’s conscious. (33) They shall have all that they will desire with their Lord. That is the reward of the good doers. (34) So that Allah wipes out from them the worst deeds that they did and gives them the reward according to the best of what they used to do.”  (Al-Zumur 39:33-35) 

Truthfulness is the root of all virtues and lying is the root of all evils in the world.  How many wars started and how much injustices have been committed based on lies.   Therefore, you note that Allah places truthfulness ahead of justice, as Allah says:

وَتَمَّتۡ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدۡقً۬ا وَعَدۡلاً۬‌ۚ لَّا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ (١١٥)

“And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” (Al-Anaam 6:115)

Truthfulness comes ahead of justice because there will be no justice until true information is available.  Allah makes it very clear that truthfulness is an essential attribute of every prophet and messenger.  As example, Allah says:

وَٱذۡكُرۡ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ صِدِّيقً۬ا نَّبِيًّا (٤١)

“And mention in the Book, Abraham: surely, he was a man of truth, a Prophet.” (Maryam 19:41)

وَٱذۡكُرۡ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ إِسۡمَـٰعِيلَ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ صَادِقَ ٱلۡوَعۡدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولاً۬ نَّبِيًّ۬ا (٥٤)

“And mention in the Book Ismail (Ishmael): surely, he was true to his promise, and was a Messenger, a Prophet.” (Maryam 19:54)

وَٱذۡكُرۡ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ إِدۡرِيسَ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ صِدِّيقً۬ا نَّبِيًّ۬ا (٥٦)

“And mention in the Book, Idris (Enoch): surely, he was a man of truth, a Prophet.” (Maryam 19:56) 

Allah emphasizes to the believers the importance of not only abiding by truth but also by being in the company of the those who uphold the truth, Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ (١١٩)

 “O you who have believed, fear Allah and be in the company of the truthful.” (At-Tawbah 9: 119).

Allah associates those who are truthful with those whom He has blessed, Allah says:

وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡہِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّہَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ‌ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ رَفِيقً۬ا (٦٩)

“And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, such will be in the company of those whom Allah has blessed: the Prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent a company are such people!” (Al-Nisa 4:69)

Note that every Muslim should be reading Surat Al-Fatiha at least 17 times every day and every time, he makes the supplication to Allah to guide him to the straight path, the path of those whom Allah has blessed, he will be saying

ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٲطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ (٦) صِرَٲطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ

“Guide us to the straight path. (6) The path of those on whom You have blessed.” (Al-Fatiha 1:6-7) 

 Who are those whom Allah has blessed?  They are the ones whom we just mentioned, they are the Prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs, and the righteous.

The Prophet (PBUH) took every opportunity to emphasize to his followers the importance of truthfulness.  Ibn Masoud narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:  

وعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بن مسعود رضي الله عنه قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : “عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَمَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَصْدُقُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الصِّدْقَ (أي يبالغ فيه ويجتهد) حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ صِدِّيقًا وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالْكَذِبَ فَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ وَمَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَكْذِبُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الْكَذِبَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَذَّابًا. ” رواه مسلم.

 “Adhere to truthfulness, for indeed truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to be truthful and strives for truthfulness until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful person.

And beware of lying, for indeed lying leads to sinning, and sinning leads to the Fire. A man continues to tell lies and strives upon lying until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.” (Saheeh Muslim) 

The emphasis by the Prophet (PBUH) that truthfulness is the most important virtue can be understood from the account that narrated by the companion Abdullah ibn Jirrad who said:

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَرَادٍ ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ، هَلْ يَزْنِي الْمُؤْمِنُ؟ قَالَ:” قَدْ يَكُونُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ ” . قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، هَلْ يَسْرِقُ الْمُؤْمِنُ؟ قَالَ:” قَدْ يَكُونُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ ” . قَالَ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ، هَلْ يَكْذِبُ الْمُؤْمِنُ؟ قَالَ: ” لَا ” . ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ هَذِهِ الْكَلِمَةَ: إِنَّمَا يَفْتَرِي الْكَذِبَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ [النحل: 105].

I asked the Prophet (PBUH): O Prophet of Allah, would a believer ever commit fornication?

The Prophet (PBUH) said: This may happen.

So, I said:  O Messenger of Allah, would a believer ever steal.

The Prophet (PBUH) replied: This may happen.

Then I said: O Prophet of Allah, would the believer ever lie

The Prophet (PBUH) replied:  No and recited a verse of Surat Al-Nahl “Only those who do not believe invent lies. (إِنَّمَا يَفْتَرِي الْكَذِبَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ) (Al-Nahl 16:105) 

In another hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) was asked: Whether a believer will ever lie, and he said:

عن عبد الله بن جراد قال : قال أبو الدرداء : يا رسول الله، هل يكذب المؤمن؟ قال : ” لا يؤمن بالله ولا باليوم الآخر من إذا حدث كذب ” .

“None believes in Allah and in the day of judgment who when he speaks lies.”

The Prophet (PBUH) also emphasized the criticality of truthfulness in business dealings and that it is incumbent upon the seller not to hide any defect in the product he is selling.  The Prophet (PBUH) said:  

وعن حكيم بن حزام رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : ” البيعان بالخيار ما لم يتفرقا، فإن صدقا وبيّنا بورك لهما في بيعهما، وإن كتما وكذبا محقت بركة بيعهما ” رواه البخاري ومسلم.

The seller and the buyer have the right to negotiate as long as they have not settled the deal.  If they are open and honest in their negotiation, their deal will be blessed, but if they conceal and tell lies, the blessing of their deal will be wiped out. (Bukhari and Muslim).

Abdallah Ibn Omar reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن عبدالله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “أربع إذا كن فيك فلا عليك ما فاتك من الدنيا: حفظ أمانة، وصدق حديث، وحسن خليقة، وعفة في طعمة “. ]رواه أحمد وابن أبي الدنيا والطبراني والبيهقي[.

“There are four things, which if you possess, you should not regret whatever you miss from this world: fulfilling trusts, speaking the truth, good manners and lawful source of provision.”

Ubadah Ibn Al-Samit narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: « اضْمَنُوا لِي سِتًّا مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَضْمَنْ لَكُمْ الْجَنَّةَ: اصْدُقُوا إِذَا حَدَّثْتُمْ، وَأَوْفُوا إِذَا وَعَدْتُمْ، وَأَدُّوا إِذَا اؤْتُمِنْتُمْ، وَاحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَكُمْ، وَغُضُّوا أَبْصَارَكُمْ، وَكُفُّوا أَيْدِيَكُمْ ». ]أحمد والبيهقي وابن حبان[

“Guarantee for me six things and I will guarantee Paradise for you: 1) tell the truth when you speak, 2) fulfill your promises, 3) be faithful when you are trusted, 4) safeguard your chastity, 5) lower your gaze, and 6) withhold your hands (from harming others).”

Key Divisions of Truthfulness:

1. Verbal-based truth (الصدق بالقول): When you speak, you should only speak the truth with no additions, alternation, subtraction, or suppression. Also, never transmit the information that you hear or receive from social media that you cannot verify its absolute truthfulness. It is better to heed the advice of the Prophet (PBUH) who said: “كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ كَذِبًا أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ”, “It is enough lies of a person that he speaks all that he hears.” 
2. Action-based truth (الصدق بالفعل) : Your actions and words must be consistent, you should never deceive or cheat and always fulfill promises and oaths. Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ (٢) ڪَبُرَ مَقۡتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُواْ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ (٣)

“O you who believe! Why do you say what you do not do? (2) It is most hatful to Allah that you say what you do not do.” (Al-Saff 61:2-3) 

3. Intention-based truth (الصدق بالنية): Your intention for all what you say and do must be sincerely for Allah and not for showing off. Allah says:

[وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓاْ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ] “They have not been ordered but to worship Allah with full sincerity.” (Al-Bayyina 98:5)

A legend that represents the condition of the world today

According to a 19th century legend, the Truth and the Lie meet one day. The Lie said to the Truth: “It’s a wonderful day today”! The Truth looked up to the skies and the day was really beautiful.  They spend some time together, ultimately arriving beside a lake. The Lie put his hand and said to the Truth: “The water is very nice and warm, let’s take a swim.” The Truth, once again suspicious, tests the water and discovers that it indeed is very nice. They undressed and went for a swim.

Suddenly, the Lie comes out of the water, puts on the clothes of the Truth and runs away. The furious Truth comes out and runs everywhere to find the Lie to get his clothes back. The people seeing the Truth naked started insulting him with contempt and rage.

The poor Truth returns to the river and disappears, hiding therein. Since then, the Lie travels around the world, dressed as the Truth, satisfying the people’s needs, because they do not want to face the naked Truth.

The Misunderstood concept of “taqiyya”

Unfortunately lying is the common practice of the Islamophobes who pick something out of context and start spreading lies about Islam and Muslims.  One issue that they use to create doubt about the truthfulness of Muslims is claiming that there is something in Islamic sharia that is called “Taqiyya”.  If you search the Internet for the word “taqiyya”, you will find many videos and articles from groups hostile to Islam arguing that “taqiyya” is central to Islam and permits a Muslim to lie with impunity to non-believers to achieve his goals.  They support their argument by ignoring all the verses and hadith that prevents Muslims from lying and pick the following verse in surat Al-Emran:

لَّا يَتَّخِذِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوۡلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ‌ۖ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٲلِكَ فَلَيۡسَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ فِى شَىۡءٍ إِلَّآ أَن تَتَّقُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ تُقَٮٰةً۬‌ۗ

“Let not the believers take unbelievers for their guardians instead of the believers and whoever does this has no connection with Allah, unless you do this as a protective measure (in order to save yourself from them).”  (Al-Emran 3:28)

Those Islamophobes completely corrupt the meaning of the Arabic “taqiyya” which is driven from the Arabic words for “piety” and “fear of God” and indicates the case when a person is in a state of caution. As example, Allah says:

فَمَنِ ٱعۡتَدَىٰ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فَٱعۡتَدُواْ عَلَيۡهِ بِمِثۡلِ مَا ٱعۡتَدَىٰ عَلَيۡكُمۡ‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ (١٩٤)

“Then whoever transgresses against you, you transgress likewise against him. And fear Allah and know that Allah is with the God-fearing.”  (Al-Baqara 2:194)

The verse that they quote mainly suggests that a person who faces religious persecution can withhold the identity of their faith in order to avoid bodily harm or death.  The application of this concept was done not only by Muslims but also by Jews who were forced to convert to Catholicism in Spain during the 1500s.  In fact, this concept is common to all religions.  

Yes, it is permissible to hide the fact that you are Muslim if you are under threat, as long as it does not involve hurting another person. Even non-Muslim scholars understand the limitations of the concept of “Taqiyya.  As example, Professor Noah Feldman of Harvard Law School, said: “taqiyya is dissimulation when one is being oppressed or tortured or having one’s views banned, a bit like Jesuit dispensation to lie under oath when your life is in danger.”

There is no allowance in Islam that would permit a Muslim to lie to pursue any materialistic gains and as we discussed it is very clear that in Islam lying is completely prohibited except in the very strict cases when harm is imminent to the person.    Therefore, lying for materialistic gains such as lying in any financial transaction such as tax return or in securing visa are completely and unequivocally prohibited in Islam.  

In Islam, truthfulness is something which is so cultivated that it became implanted in a Muslim’s soul and disposition and is reflected throughout the person’s character.  This is clearly recognized when you read the sayings of the early Muslims.  As examples:

Abu Bakr (RA) said:

قال أبو بكر الصديق رضي الله عنه: الصدق أمانة، والكذب خيانة.

“Truthfulness is trust and lying is betrayal”

 Omar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA) said:

قال عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله “لا تنظروا إلى صيام أحد ولا إلى صلاته ولكن انظروا من إذا حدث صدق”.

“Do not look at the person extent of fasting or prayers but only look to whether when he speaks, he tells the truth”.

Omar Ibn Al-Khataab (RA) also said:

عليك بالصدق وان قتلك, ولأن يضعني الصدق – وقلما يضع- أحب الي من ان يرفعني الكذب- وقلما يفعل-

“Be steadfast on truth even if it ruins you, and even if the truth ruins me, and it rarely does, it is more beloved to me than being raised up in rank by lying, and it rarely does.”  

While lying to the enemies is permitted during the war, The prophet (PBUH) never lied even during the war, but he will say the truth that may be misinterpreted.  As example, before the battle of Badr, when the Prophet wanted to hide where he is from, he said to the man who was inquiring that he is from water (“نَحْنُ مِنْ مَاءٍ”.)  and walked away keeping the man wondering which water location since it was common practice for the Arabs to call locations by “water of such and such”.  But what the Prophet (PBUH) really meant that he is from water as Allah said:

We created from water every living thing. (وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ حَىٍّ‌ۖ) (Al-Anbia 21:30)

The Prophet (PBUH) warned against lying to one’s children. Abdullah ibn Amir said:

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ دَعَتْنِي أُمِّي يَوْمًا، وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَاعِدٌ فِي بَيْتِنَا، فَقَالَتْ: هَا تَعَالَ أُعْطِيكَ. فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: « وَمَا أَرَدْتِ أَنْ تُعْطِيهِ؟» قَالَتْ: أُعْطِيهِ تَمْرًا. فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: « أَمَا إِنَّكِ لَوْ لَمْ تُعْطِيهِ شَيْئًا كُتِبَتْ عَلَيْكِ كِذْبَةٌ ». ]أخرج أحمد وأبو داود والبيهقي[

“My mother called me while the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was visiting us, and she said: come here and I will give you what is in my hand.  The Messenger (PBUH) asked her, what will you give him?  She said:  I’ll give him dates.  The messenger said: If you would not have given him something, this would have been written for you as a lie.

Unfortunately, parents may take it lightly and lie to their children so they would stop nagging them, or a father may ask the child to lie by telling someone that he is not here while he is in the house.  This is dangerous because it teaches children to lie which is absolutely prohibited in Islam.

This impeccable character of early Muslim by always speaking the truth was a key for them being trusted in delivering the message of Allah to people and be deserving the support of Allah promised, and for the people to accept Allah’s message

While it is not based on confirmed saying of the Prophet (PBUH), Islamic scholars suggested that there are only three conditions under which a Muslim can lie and would not be committing a sin.  These are: 1) during the war, 2) reconciling between people who are in conflict (says something good that they are saying about each other), and 3) a man speaking to his wife, or a wife to her husband and exaggerating each other traits that will strengthen their ties of love to each other. (It will be ok to tell your wife that she is the most beautiful woman in the world, and she tells you, you are the smartest person in the world.)

We pray to Allah to make us of the truthful and resurrect us with the truthful and to make our tongues steadfast in only telling the truth and to cleanse our tongues from any form of lies.

DUA