Honesty for believers in Islam

When honesty is lost, then wait for the Day of Judgment. These are the words of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). We expect people to be honest in their dealings with us yet we watch and applaud television shows and movies that promote and encourage lying and deceitfulness. Good enough for us to admonish our children for lying as Prophet (SAW) asks us to show our children the path of righteousness and truthfulness. So we have to understand that if we tell lies or allow our children to live in a world surrounded by deceit, the lesson is learnt and the honesty begins to disappear from the hearts of the next generation. Honesty incorporates the concepts of truthfulness and reliability and it resides in all human thought, words, actions and relationships. It is more than just accuracy; it is more than just truthfulness, it denotes integrity or moral soundness. Islam commands truthfulness and forbids lying. The Almighty Allah commands that a Muslim has to be honest. “O you who believe! Fear God, and be with those who are true (in word and deeds).” (Quran 9:119). Ibn Katheer, the renowned Quran scholar, explained the meaning of this verse. He said, “Being truthful and adhering to truthfulness, means you will be among the people of the truth and be saved from calamity and that it will make a way out for you from your problems”. A true believer has many characteristics by which he can be identified. The most obvious of these noble characteristics are honesty and truthfulness. Prophet Mohammad (SAW) was a perfect example of honesty. Even before his Prophethood, he had earned the titles of Al Amin (the trustworthy one) and Al Sadiq (the truthful). Prophet Mohammad (SAW) once told a gathering in Mecca “O people of Mecca! If I say that an army is advancing on you from behind the mountains, will you believe me?” All said in one voice, “Yes, because we have never heard you telling a lie.”
All the people, without exception, swore to his truthfulness and honesty because he had lived an unblemished and extremely pious life among them for forty years.Abu Sufyan described his honesty. When Prophet Muhammad (SAW) sent a letter to the Emperor of Byzantium inviting him to Islam, the Emperor, Heraclius sent for the Meccan trader, Abu Sufyan. Even though he was, at that time, a dire enemy of Islam, he spoke the truth about Prophet Mohammad (SAW) when he said, “He neither tells lies nor betrays others, he asks people to worship the Almighty Allah alone and orders us to observe prayer, honesty and abstinence”. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) warned us of the dangers inherent in dishonesty, and the benefits of living in an honest way. He said: “Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. In addition, a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to wickedness and evil-doing, and wickedness leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before God, as a liar”. (Saheeh Al-Bukhari). A true Islamic society is based upon honesty and justice. Honesty in all business transactions is emphasised and the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) exhorts Muslims to be scrupulously honest in all their dealings. A Muslim seeking to please Almighty Allah and follow the path of righteousness should be aware of the dangers of deceit and dishonesty. However, equally he should know that Almighty Allah is all merciful and all loving, willing to forgive even the gravest sins for those who strive for his sake. Honesty is very important in the life of a believer.