The Obligation of Truthfulness and Sincerity in all Dealings – Shaykh Ibn Bāz (rahimahullāh)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

All praise belong to Allāh, may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allāh, upon his family, and his companions and all those who follow in their way.

To Proceed:

Allāh (Glorified and Most High) made truthfulness and sincerity in dealings obligatory upon the Muslims and prohibited them from lying, deception and betrayal. This is because truthfulness, sincerity, sincere counsel, fulfilment of responsibilities and trusts, genuine cooperation [in good] between individuals, all have a profound effect in rectifying the community. Adherence to these matters likewise brings safety from mutual oppression, enmity, the unlawful seizure of wealth, and the spread of rancour and hatred amongst people.

 It is authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ that he said,

الدين النصيحة قيل لمن يا رسول الله؟ قال: لله ولكتابه ورسوله ولأئمة المسلمين وعامتهم

The religion is sincere advice. It was said, to whom Oh Messenger of Allāh? He replied, For Allāh, for His Book, for His Messenger, for the leaders of the Muslims and for the general people. [1]

And in the Ṣahīhayn (Bukhāri and Muslim), on the authority of Jarīr ibn ‘Abdillāh al-Bajalī (رضي الله عنه), who said,

البيعان بالخيار ما لم يفترقا، أو قال حتى يتفرقا، فإن صدقا وبينا بورك لهما في بيعهما، وإن كتما وكذبا محقت بركة بيعهما

“I gave the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ that I would establish the prayer, give the zakāt and sincerely advise [and intend good for] every Muslim.”[2]

And in the Ṣahīhayn, on the authority of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه), the Messenger of Allāh said,

ثلاثة لا يكلمهم الله ولا ينظر إليهم يوم القيامة ولا يزكيهم ولهم عذاب أليم، رجل على فضل ماء بالفلاة يمنعه من ابن السبيل، ورجل بايع رجلا بسلعة بعد العصر، فحلف له بالله لأعطي بها كذا وكذا، فصدقه وهو على غير ذلك، ورجل بايع إماما لا يبايعه إلا للدنيا فإن أعطاه منها وفى، وإن لم يعطه منها لم يف

“There are three whom Allah will not speak with, nor look at, nor purify on the Day of Resurrection, and they will have a painful punishment. [The first is] A man who possesses surplus water in the wilderness and withholds it from a traveller. [The second is] a man who sells goods to another after ‘Asr and swears by Allāh that he was offered such and such for it, so the man believes him while this was untrue. [The third is a man who pledges allegiance to a ruler, for no other reason than worldly gain, if he was given some, he fulfils [his pledge], if he is not given any, he does not fulfil [his pledge].[3]

Therefore, it is an obligation upon all Muslims to fear Allah regarding their dealings, to be wary of all causes of Allāh’s Anger and painful punishment against which the people of deception, betrayal and lies have been threatened. Likewise, it is an obligation upon all to encourage one another with truthfulness and sincerity and fearing Allah in all matters, for in doing so lies true happiness in the worldly life and the hereafter, it brings about a purification of the hearts and rectifies society. This also brings blessings in one’s dealings, protection from consuming the unlawful and protects a Muslim from oppressing his brother.

It is authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ that he said,

المؤمن للمؤمن كالبنيان، يشد بعضه بعضًا، وشبَّك بين أصابعه

“The believer to another believer is like a building, each part supporting the other” – he ﷺ clasped his hands together and interlaced his fingers.[4]

He ﷺ also said,

مثل المسلمين في توادهم وتراحمهم وتعاطفهم كمثل الجسد الواحد، إذا اشتكى منه عضو تداعى له سائر الجسد بالسهر والحمى

“The similitude of the Muslims in their mutual love, mercy and affection is the similitude of one body, when one limb of it complains, the rest of the body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.”[5]

I ask Allāh – The One free of all deficiencies – to rectify the state of the Muslims, to unite their hearts upon Taqwa, to rectify their rulers, to grant them all truthfulness, and sincerity in all affairs, and to cooperate in righteousness and piety. Indeed, Allāh is the Most Generous, the Most Bountiful.

May Allāh’s Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muḥammad, his family and his companions.

Abridged from Majmū’ Fatāwa wa Maqālāt of Shaykh Ibn Bāz vol.4, p.103

[1] Muslim 55

[2] Bukhāri 57, Muslim 56

[3] Bukhāri 7212, Muslim 108

[4] Bukhāri 481, Muslim 2585

[5] Muslim 2586

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The Obligation of Truthfulness and Sincerity in all Dealings – Shaykh Ibn Bāz