Lesson 53 Perfection to Truthfulness
Perfection (Ihsan) One has to do his best in performing good deeds.
One has to do his best in acts of worship by fulfilling all the conditions, pillars and manners of each act.
One has to do his best in all dealings with parents, relatives, orphans, indigent people, wayfarers, and even animals.
One should do his best in performing work whether manual or professional.
Preference: Preference is to prefer others over one's self.
Preference is a sign of true belief
Sincerity Sincerity is deeds that are done purely for the sake of Allah without hypocrisy, seeking fame or praise of people.
Sincerity is obligatory for acceptability: of faith, intention, worship, sayings, and deeds.
Sincerity and truthfulness are inseparable
Trust: The believer should put all his trust in Allah (SWT).
True trust is through pursuing all required procedures.
The Muslim should depend on himself in work and earning money, and not to be dependent on others.
Truthfulness Truthfulness is that one’s sayings conform with reality.
Truthfulness with oneself is to have true belief and intention.
In truthfulness, there is comfort of conscience and tranquility.
Truthfulness blesses one’s earnings and augments charity.
Lying is a sign of hypocrisy
Evidence From Qur ’ an and Sunnah
Perfection: Allah says: ﴿إِنَّ اللهَ يأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴾ [ النحل : 90]
This means: “Verily, Allah enjoins justice and to performing your duties to Allah in a perfect manner, and giving (help) to kith and kin and forbids all evil deeds and all that is prohibited by Islamic law and all kinds of oppression, He admonishes you, that you may take heed” (An-Nahl: 90)
Allah says: ﴿ وَأَحْسِنُوا إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴾ [ البقرة : 195]
This means: “And do good. Truly, Allah loves the good-doers” (Al-Baqarah: 195)
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Verily Allah has prescribed perfection towards everything. So, if you slaughter, let it be in the best manner. When you sacrifice (an animal), do it in a good way. Let one of you sharpen his knife and comfort his sacrificial animal (reduce its pain).” (Reported by Muslim)
Altruism: Allah says: ﴿وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴾ [ الحشر : 9]
This means: “And give them (emigrants) preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful.” (Al-Hashr: 9)
The Prophet (SAWS) said: “None amongst you is a truthful believer until he likes for his brother which he loves for himself.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)
Sincerity: Allah says: ﴿ أَلاَ لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ ﴾ [ الزمر : 3]
This means: “Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only.” ( Az-Zumar: 3)
Allah says: ﴿ قـُلْ إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللهَ مُخْلِصاً لَّهُ الدِّينَ ﴾ [ الزمر : 11]
This means: “Say (O Muhammad SAWS): "Verily, I am commanded to worship Allah (Alone) by obeying Him and doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only and not to show off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship.''” (Az-Zumar: 11)
Allah says: ﴿ قُلِ اللهَ أَعْبُدُ مُخْلِصاً لَّهُ دِينِي ﴾ [ الزمر : 14]
This means: “Say (O Muhammad SAWS) ''Allah Alone I worship by doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only and not to show-off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship.''” (Az-Zumar: 14)
Allah says: ﴿ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُوا اللهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَذَلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ ﴾ [ البينة : 5]
This means: “And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salah and give Zakah: and that is the right religion.” (Al-Bayyinah: 5)
Allah says: ﴿ إِنَّماَ نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللهِ لاَ نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلاَ شُكُوراً ﴾ [ الإنسان : 9]
This means: “We feed you seeking Allah's Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you.” (Al-Insan: 9)
The Prophet (SAWS) said: “The luckiest person who will have my intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be the one who said sincerely from the bottom of his heart: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)
The Prophet (SAWS) said: “He who is consulted should be trustworthy.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)
Trust: Allah says: ﴿ اللهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَعَلَى اللهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴾ [ التغابن : 13]
This means: “Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but He, and in Allah (Alone), therefore, let the believers put their trust.” (At-Taghabun: 13)
Allah says: ﴿ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلاَّ للهِ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَعَلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ ﴾ [ يوسف : 67]
This means: “Verily! The decision rests only with Allah. In him, I put my trust and let all those that trust, put their trust in Him.” (Yusuf: 67)
Allah also says: ﴿ فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لاَنفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الأَمْرِ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللهِ إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ ﴾ [ آل عمران : 159]
This means: “And by the Mercy of Allah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harshhearted, they would have broken away from about you; so pass over (their faults), and ask (Allah's) Forgiveness for them; and consult them in the affairs.
Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).” (3, Al-`Imran: 159)
And says: ﴿ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ حَسْبِيَ اللهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ ﴾ [ التوبة : 129]
This means: “But if they turn away, say (O Muhammad SAWS): “Allah is sufficient for me. none has the right to be worshipped but He, in Him I put my trust and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.” (At-Tawbah: 129)
Allah says: ﴿ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ﴾ [ الطلاق : 3]
This means: “And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him.” (At-Talaq: 3)
There are many other verses that urge Muslims to put their trust in Allah.
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “If you all pin your trust in Allah with due reliance, He will certainly give you provision as He supplies provisions to birds who get up hungry in the morning and return with full belly at dusk.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)
The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) said about the seventy thousands who shall enter Paradise without being taken to account and torment: “They are those who do not pronounce (non-Islamic) Ruqyah on others, nor seek Ruqyah to be pronounced to them (as a means for protection from evils) nor believe in evil omens, but trust in their Lord.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)
he Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “When a man goes out of his house and utters: ‘In the Name of Allah; I trust in Allah; there is no might and no power (to resist evil) but in Allah’, the following (words) will be said to him at that time: ‘You are guided, defended and protected.’ And the devil will go far away from him.” (Reported by Abu-Dawud)
Truthfulness: Allah says: ﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ ﴾ [ التوبة : 119]
This means: “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” (At-Tawbah: 119)
Allah says: ﴿ وَالَّذِي جَاءَ بِالصِّدْقِ وَصَدَّقَ بِهِ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ ﴾ [ الزمر : 33]
This means: “And he (Muhammad SAWS) who has brought the truth and (those who) believed therein, those are Al- Muttaqun (the pious and righteous persons).” (Az-Zumar: 33)
Allah says: ﴿ مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللهَ عَلَيْهِ فَمِنْهُم مَّن قَضَى نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا تَبْديلاً﴾ [ الأحزاب : 23]
This means: “Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah, of them some have fulfilled their obligations, and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed in the least.” (Al-Ahzab: 23)
The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Truth leads to piety, and piety leads to Paradise. A man persists in telling the truth till he is enrolled with Allah as a truthful man.
Falsehood leads to vice, and vice leads to the Fire (Hell). A person goes on telling lies till he is recorded to be a liar (in the Sight of) Allah.” (Reported by Muslim)
The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Should not I inform you of the most grievous of the grave sins?” (The Prophet) repeated it three times, and then said: Associating anyone with Allah, and disobedience to parents.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was reclining, then he sat up and said,''And false testimony, or false utterance'', and repeated it so many times that we wished that he should become silent.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)