Lesson 51 Honesty to Justice
Honesty Honesty is the opposite of betrayal. It is to fulfill others' rights even if they were traitors.
The Prophet was known as ‘the most Honest’ before revelation The Prophet was known as ‘the most Honest’ before revelation. It is also an attribute of all the messengers and the righteous bondmen of Allah.
Honesty in knowledge is to continue learning and be accurate in conveying it to people.
Honesty in treating people is to keep their secrets and to give them their complete rights without delay.
Humility: Allah commanded us to be humble and prohibited us from haughtiness, by praising humble people and warning those who are proud.
Justice: Obligatory justice is to give everyone his right, to take one's right, and to treat people equally.
The oppressed should triumph over injustice.
Evidence from Qur’an and Sunnah
Honesty: Allah says: ﴿ إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الأَمَانَاتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا ﴾ [النساء: 58]
This means: “Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due.” (An-Nisa’: 58)
Allah says: ﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَخُونُوا اللهَ وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴾ [الأنفال: 27]
This means: “O you who believe! Betray not Allah and His Messenger, nor betray knowingly your Amanat (things entrusted to you, and all the duties which Allah has ordained for you).” (Al-Anfal: 27)
Allah says: ﴿ إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الإِنسانُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُوماً جَهُولاً ﴾ [الأحزاب: 72]
This means: “Truly, We did offer AlAmanah (the trust or moral responsibility or honesty and all the duties which Allah has ordained) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it (i.e. afraid of Allah's Torment). But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results).” (Al-Ahzab: 72)
﴿ إِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْخَائِنِينَ ﴾ And says: ﴿ إِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْخَائِنِينَ ﴾ [الأنفال: 58]
“Certainly Allah likes not the treacherous.” This means: “Certainly Allah likes not the treacherous.” (Al-Anfal: 58)
وَاللهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ ﴾ Allah also says: ﴿ وَلاَ تَكْتُمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ آثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ وَاللهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ ﴾ [البقرة: 283]
This means: “And conceal not the evidence (testimony) for he, who hides it, surely his heart is sinful. And Allah is All-Knower of what you do.” (Al-Baqarah: 283)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “All of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards. The ruler is a guardian of his subjects and the man is a guardian of his family; the lady is a guardian and is responsible for her husband's house and his offspring; and so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Pay the deposit to him who deposited it with you, and do not betray him who betrayed you.” (Reported by ad-Darqatniyy)
The honesty of the prophets and the messengers: Allah says: ﴿ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ نُوحٌ أَلاَ تَتَّقُونَ * إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ ﴾ (الشعراء: 106-107)
This means: “When their brother Nuh (Noah) said to them: "Will you not fear Allah and obey Him? I am a trustworthy Messenger to you.” (Ash-Shu`ara’: 106 - 107)
Allah says: إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ هُودٌ أَلا تَتَّقُونَ. إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ (الشعراء: 124 - 125)
This means: “When their brother Hud said to them: Will you not fear Allah and obey Him? Verily! I am a trustworthy Messenger to you.” (26, Ash-Shu`ara’: 124 - 125)
أُبَلِّغُكُمْ رِسَالاتِ رَبِّي وَأَنَاْ لَكُمْ نَاصِحٌ أَمِينٌ Allah says: أُبَلِّغُكُمْ رِسَالاتِ رَبِّي وَأَنَاْ لَكُمْ نَاصِحٌ أَمِينٌ (الأعراف: 68)
This means: “I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord, and I am a trustworthy adviser (or wellwisher) for you.” (7, Al-A`raf: 68)
Allah says: إِذْ قَال لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ صَالِحٌ أَلا تَتَّقُونَ. إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ (الشعراء: 142 - 143)
This means: “When their brother Salih (Saleh) said to them: Will you not fear Allah and obey Him? I am a trustworthy Messenger to you.” (26, Ash-Shu`ara’: 142 - 143)
Allah says: إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ لُوطٌ أَلا تَتَّقُون. إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ (الشعراء: 161 - 162)
This means: “When their brother Lut (Lot) said to them: Will you not fear Allah and obey Him? Verily! I am a trustworthy Messenger to you.” (26, As-Shu`ara’: 161 - 162)
Allah says: إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ شُعَيْبٌ أَلا تَتَّقُونَ. إِنِّي لَكُم رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ (الشعراء: 177 - 178)
This means: “When Shu'ayb (Shuaib) said to them: "Will you not fear Allah (and obey Him)? I am a trustworthy Messenger to you.''” (26, Ash-Shu`ara’: 177 - 178)
Allah says: وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَجَاءهُمْ رَسُول كَرِيمٌ. أَنْ أَدُّوا إِلَيَّ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ (الدخان: 17 - 18)
This means: “And indeed We tried before them Fir'awn's (Pharaoh) people, when there came to them a noble (trustworthy) Messenger [i.e. Musa (Moses)] Saying: "Restore to me the slaves of Allah (i.e. the Children of Israel). Verily! I am to you a Messenger worthy of all trust.''” (44, Ad-Dukhan: 17 - 18)
Honesty in knowledge: The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said to `Ali (RA): “By Allah, if a single person is guided by Allah through you, it will be better for you than the red (valuable) camels.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)
The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Ascribing false things to me is not like ascribing false things to anyone else. Whosoever tells a lie against me intentionally, then surely let him occupy his seat in Hell-Fire.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)
Honesty in dealing with people: Allah says: ﴿ وَلاَ تَكْتُمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ آثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ وَاللهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ﴾ [البقرة: 283]
This means: “And conceal not the evidence (testimony) for he, who hides it, surely his heart is sinful. And Allah is All-Knower of what you do.” (Al-Baqarah: 283)
The Prophet (SAWS) said: “That who deceives is not of us.” (Reported by Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “That who misappropriates the right of a Muslim by taking a false oath, Allah will make the fire of Hell obligatory for him, and Paradise will be forbidden for him.” A man said to him: Messenger of Allah, even if it is something insignificant? He replied, “Yes, even if it is the twig of the Arak tree.” (Reported by an-Nasa’iyy and Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Whoever takes the money of the people with the intention of repaying it, Allah will repay it on his behalf, and whoever takes it in order to spoil it, then Allah will spoil him.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)
The Prophet (SAWS) said, "Allah loves that if one of you does a job he perfects it." (Reported by Al-Bayhaqiyy)
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Allah, the Exalted, said: I will be the adversary of three persons on the Day of Judgment:
(Reported by al-Bukhariyy) One who makes a covenant in My name and then breaks it, one who sells a free man as a slave and devours his price, and one who hires a workman and having taken full work from him, denied him his wages.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)
Humility: Allah says: ﴿ وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ هَوْناً ... ﴾ [الفرقان: 63]
This means: “And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility. (Al-Furqan: 63)
Allah says: ﴿ وَلاَ تَمْشِ فِي الأَرْضِ مَرَحاً إِنَّكَ لَن تَخْرِقَ الأَرْضَ وَلَن تَبْلُغَ الْجِبَالَ طُولاً [الإسراء: 37 ﴾
This means: “And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain a stature like the mountains in height.” (Al-Isra’: 37)
Allah also says: ﴿ وَلاَ تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ للنَّاسِ وَلاَ تَمْشِ فِي الأَرْضِ مَرَحاً إِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ*وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ وَاغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ الأَصْوَاتِ لَصَوْتُ الْحَمِيرِ ﴾ [لقمان: 18، 19
This means: “And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster. And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the voice (braying) of the ass.” (Luqman: 18 - 19)
﴿... وَاخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴾ And says: ﴿... وَاخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴾ [الحجر : 88]
“And lower your wing to the believers.” This means: “And lower your wing to the believers.” (Al-Hijr: 88)
Allah says: ﴿ تِلْكَ الدَّارُ ألآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لاَ يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوّاً فِي الأَرْضِ ولاَ فَسَاداً وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴾ [القصص: 83]
This means: “That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqun (pious).” (Al-Qasas: 83)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Wealth does not decrease by giving charity. Allah augments the honor of that who forgives, and that who behaves modestly Allah will exalt him in ranks.” (Reported by Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “It is Allah's Law that He lowers whatever raises itself in the world.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “The most abhorrent and farthest to me among you will be the talkative, the Mutashaddiqun (those who utter words in a way that shows that they are eloquent) and the arrogant.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)
The Prophet (SAWS) said, "On the Day of Resurrection, the arrogant will be gathered like ants in the form of men. Humiliation will overwhelm them from all sides. They will be driven to a prison in Hell …, with the hottest fire rising over them, and they will be given to drink of the juice of the inhabitants of Hell…" (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Verily, Allah has revealed to me that you should be humble. No one should transgress against another, and no one should hold himself in high esteem.” (Reported by Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Now, shall I inform you about the inmates of Hell? Every ignoble, impertinent, and proud man.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “There are three types of persons to whom Allah will not speak in the Day of Resurrection nor will He purify them or look at them and they will have a painful punishment. They are: an aged man who commits fornication, a ruler who is a great liar, and an arrogant poor person.” (Reported by Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Allah, the Exalted, says: Honor is My lower garment and Pride is My cloak. Whoever vies with Me in one of them, I shall torment him.” (Reported by Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “A well-dressed man was walking proudly. He had combed his hair and he was walking majestically when Allah caused him to be swallowed up by the earth. Now he will continue to toss about in it till the Day of Resurrection.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)
Justice: Allah says: ﴿ إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُ بالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى ﴾ [النحل: 90]
This means: “Verily, Allah enjoins Al-`Adl (i.e. justice) and Al-Ihsan [i.e. performing your duties to Allah in a perfect manner], and giving (help) to kith and kin.” (An-Nahl: 90)
Allah says: ﴿ إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الأَمَانَاتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ ﴾ [النساء: 58]
This means: “Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice.” (An-Nisa’: 58)
Allah says: ﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالأَقْرَبِينَ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَو فَقِيراً فَاللهُ أَوْلَى بِهِمَا فَلاَ تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَى أَن تَعْدِلُوا ﴾ [النساء: 135]
This means: “O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice.” (An-Nisa’: 135)
Allah says: ﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ إِنَّ اللهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴾ [المائدة: 8]
This means: “O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is WellAcquainted with what you do.” (Al-Ma’idah: 8)
﴿ وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى ﴾ Allah says: ﴿ وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى ﴾ [الأنعام: 152]
This means: “And when you speak, then be just, even if it should be to a near kinsman.” (Al-An`am: 152)
Allah says: ﴿ وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَبَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُوْلَئِكَ مَاعَلَيْهِم مِّن سَبِيلٍ ﴾ [الشورى: 41]
This means: “And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them.” (Ash-Shura: 41)
The Prophet (SAWS) said: “O people, those who have gone before you were destroyed because if any one of high rank committed theft amongst them, they would spare him. If any one of low rank committed theft, they would inflict the prescribed penalty upon him. By Allah, if Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, were to steal, I would have her hand cut off.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Seven are (the persons) whom Allah would give protection with His shade on the Day when there would be no shade but that of Him (i.e. on the Day of Judgment, and they are): A just ruler, a youth who grew up worshipping Allah; a person whose heart is attached to mosques; two persons who love, meet and depart from each other for the Sake of Allah;
(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim) a man whom a beautiful woman of high rank seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer) saying: I fear Allah; a person who gives charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the right hand does not know what the left has given: and a person who remembered Allah in privacy and his eyes shed tears.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)
The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Those who act justly will be seated upon pulpits of light in the presence of Allah. They will be those who do justice in their decisions, in matters relating to their families and in all that they undertake to do.” (Reported by Muslim)