Religion

Issues and Questions

Truth, Honesty and Good Relations
By Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi

‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Qurad reported that one day the Prophet – peace be upon him - made ablution; his companions started rubbing (on themselves) the water of his ablution. The Prophet – peace be upon him - asked them, “What made you do this?” They said, “The love of Allah and His Messenger.” The Prophet – peace be upon him - said, “Whosoever likes to love Allah and His Messenger or likes that Allah and His Messenger love him, he should speak the truth, fulfill the trust when he is entrusted with something and he should be a good neighbor to those who are his neighbors.”
(Al-Baihaqi, Shu’ab al-Iman 1533; Mishkat al-Masabih 4990)
We believe that Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him - was the most blessed person. There was indeed a great blessing in the water that touched his body. His Companions were blessed that they saw him and touched him. The Sahabah did not do anything wrong when they touched his moist hands after ablution (wudu) and then took that sacred and blessed water to rub over their faces and bodies. The Prophet did not forbid them from doing this; because they were doing this out of their deep love for Allah and His Messenger. However, the Prophet turned their attention to his message and to the qualities that he wanted to cultivate in their characters. They loved him and now he wanted them to love the characters that can make them better human beings. He wanted them to focus on his mission and the purpose for which he came. He came to teach them truth, to make them honest and since people and he wanted them to have good relations with their neighbors.
Truth, honesty and good relations are the three main teachings of Islam. When you speak say the truth, when you deal with people deal with honesty and wherever you live, live with others as good associates and good neighbors. These are the characters of those who love Allah and His Prophet and these are also the characters of those who are loved by Allah and His Prophet.
The Prophet himself was the best example of all these three characters. Among his people he was know as Al-Sadiq and Al-Amin (the Truthful and the Honest person). He never told a lie. Even his enemies could not point out a single lie or a single deception in his whole life. He was most kind to his neighbors, even those who opposed him and tried to harm him.
Truth, honesty and good relations are signs of sincerity and stable character. The Prophet described hypocrites as those who lack these good qualities. He said,
There are four (characters) if they exist in someone, he is a complete hypocrite. If he has one of these characters then he has one character of hypocrisy until he leaves it. When he is given a trust he breaches the trust, when he speaks he lies, when he promises he breaks the promise and when he argues he becomes abusive. (Al-Bukhari, 33)
The famous modern psychologist Eric Erikson said that there are seven areas of difficulty that create problems in human personality or what he calls “identity crisis.” One should try to resolve these conflicts to develop a stable character:
1. Time Perspective
Can you distinguish immediate gratification from long-term goals? Have you learnt to balance between jumping at opportunities as soon as they are presented to you and working steadily and patiently towards your long-term goal?
2. Self-Certainty
Do you feel consistent in your self-image and the image you present to others?
3. Role Experimentation
Have you tried different roles in search of the one that feels right to you?
4. Anticipation of Achievement
Do you believe that you will be successful in what you choose to do — whether your role is at the work front or home front?
5. Gender Identity
Do you feel comfortable being a male or a female, and dealing with others as such?
6. Leadership polarization
Are you able to become both a leader and a follower, whichever is called for in a given situation?
7. Ideological convictions
Have you found a set of basic social, philosophical, or religious values that your outlook on life can be based upon?
These seven points are not very different from the three that our blessed Prophet – peace be upon him - gave in a very simple, but effective way to his loving followers. Prophet Muhammad came to reform the human character. He wanted his followers to have true beliefs and truthful and honest life. He wanted his followers to be the paradigms of sincerity and goodness towards all people. May Allah make us worthy of these characters, increase our love for Him and His Messenger and grant us the honor of His love and the love of His Messenger. Ameen.
(Khutbah at ISOC – Rabi’ al-Thani 28, 1427/ May 26, 2006)