Truthfulness
This week’s khutbah is about Truthfulness
Islam’s emphasis on nobility, ethics and morality can impress any open-minded person who has an objective and unbiased approach.
Teaching of morals in Islam has a dual purpose. On the one hand it compels to practice virtues and on the other hand it commands to give up vices. One of those main vices is the one of lying or uttering falsehood.
Lying is the worst of vices. It may be by tongue or by action or both and in all cases highly condemnable. Lying weakens the Iman or faith and exhibits the inner hollowness. Lying is against the teaching of all prophets.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
“I guarantee a house in Jannah for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a home in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even for the sake of fun; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners.
From this hadith we can appreciate the importance given to this character trait. Our prophet, peace be upon him, is giving us a path to Allah’s SWT mercy and paradise and it all begins with being truthful.
Even the disbelievers in the pre-Islamic era regarding truthfulness as a method of life, or as a means of attaining their goals.
When Abu Sufyaan, may Allah SWT be pleased with him, was still a disbeliever, he was asked a question about the Prophet peace be upon him, by Heraclius the Roman Emperor.
As head of the Quraish tribe from which the Prophet peace be upon him came, this was an ample opportunity for him to spread falsehood about the Prophet peace be upon him but he was later quoted as saying:
“I swear by Allah that if I did not fear becoming notorious for falsehood, I would have lied about him”
We need to remind ourselves that we are now the people who are blessed by Allah SWT with the perfect religion that encourages you to be truthful and tells you about its benefits and forbids you from falsehood and clarifies its dire consequences.
And Allah SWT has stated that we will be held accountable for such through the verses of the Quran. In Sura Al-Maida, ayat 119 Allah SWT says:
Allah will say, “This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.” For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment.
Dear brothers and sisters, we will all be answerable for our deeds on the day of Judgement so be mindful of this. Like all other sins, falsehood is detested by the souls of the believers.
However, be wary as the act of lying is a subtle sin that creeps up on the individual. This is because if it is committed once then it becomes easy for man to commit again, and if it is committed again, It will be easier for man to commit it over and over until it becomes part of one’s instinct and he commits it on purpose. This is when it becomes a habit to the point it will destroy the person and the person will be held as a liar in the sight of Allah SWT.
In Sura Al-tawbah, ayat 119, Allah SWT says:
O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.
Dear brothers and sisters, following on from last weeks khutba on friendship. If we recall one of the practical tips given last week it was about keeping companionship with the right people. This further cements that point because Allah SWT is making reference to the people you ought to have around you.
By having the right friends and pious people as your peers and companions, it will provide that boost you need within yourself to improve your character and manners and thus the act of being truthful.
And what does this mean practically? To be of the sound character spoken of here requires a look at one’s character when around others.
Think before you say something about others. Be very cautious while making comments about a person in their absence. Avoid suspicion and mistrust and think good of people.
You see, being truthful requires honesty and sincerity in words and deeds in all situations. Being truthful in words entails restraining the tongue from telling any lies even for jokes. The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to joke but would only speak the truth.
Being truthful in deeds demands adherence to the obedience of Allah SWT, being conscious of Him privately and openly and to avoid any sign of hypocrisy that eats up the rewards and the good deeds.
Most importantly, be truthful and sincere when it comes to repentance to Allah SWT. This is surely where it matters the most.
May Allah SWT clean our hearts and enable us to watch our tongues and our acts. May Allah SWT make us from those with the best manners, morals and ethics. And may Allah SWT recall us as from those of the truthful and not of those of falsehood.
