As-Sidq (Truthfulness) is a great and noble attribute.
The Importance of Truthfulness
1 – As-Sidq is one of the Attributes of Allaah
a) Allaah (Ta’ala) praised His Noble Self with the attribute of As-Sidq (truthfulness) in His Noble Book. He (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-An’aam [6:146]:
وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ
“And verily, We are Truthful.”
If truthfulness is one of the attributes of Allaah, then it is a great attribute.
b) He (Ta’ala) described His Speech as truthful in Surat An-Nisaa’ [4:87]:
وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَدِيثًا
“And who is truer in statement than Allaah?”
c) He (Ta’ala) described His promises as truth. He (Ta’ala) says in Surat Aal-‘Imran [3:152]:
وَلَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ وَعْدَه
“And Allaah did indeed fulfil His Promise to you.”
Allaah (Ta’ala) promises His servants with many promises in the Qur’an. If they fulfil its conditions, He will fulfil His promise to them.
E.g. in Surat At-Talaaq [65:2] Allaah promises to make a way out (i.e. relief from distress) for whoever fears Him:
وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا
“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).”
Ibn Katheer (Rahimahullaah) said in his Tafseer: “Meaning, whoever has Taqwa of Allaah in what He has commanded and what He has forbidden, Allaah will make a way out for him from every difficulty and provide him from resources he never anticipated or thought about.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
One’s life will be good when he knows what Allaah (Ta’ala) has promised in His Book and believes that Allaah is truthful in fulfilling His promise.
E.g. Allaah (Ta’ala) promises in Surat Ibraheem [14:7]:
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ
“And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: ‘If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allaah), I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe.’”
The believer would expect an increase in his faith, blessings, provision, etc. if he was grateful to his Lord.
There are many promises in the Qur’an. If one follows up these promises and tries to act upon them while believing that Allaah is Truthful in fulfilling His promise, he will live a good life and see the impact of Allaah’s promises in it.
Due to the greatness of the status of As-Sidq, Allaah attributed His Noble Self, His Speech, and His Promises with it.
2- Allaah (Ta’ala) testified to the truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat An-Nisaa’ [4:166]:
لَّٰكِنِ اللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَا أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ أَنزَلَهُ بِعِلْمِهِ ۖ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَشْهَدُونَ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا
“But Allaah bears witness to that which He has sent down (the Qur’an) unto you [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)}, He has sent it down with His Knowledge, and the angels bear witness. And Allaah is All-Sufficient as a Witness.”
Also, in the narration of the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) asking the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) about Islam, Iman, and Ihsan (perfection). Every time the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) answered, he (Gabriel) said: “You said the truth”, confirming his truthfulness.
Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was an example of a truthful person in his statements, actions, and dealings with others. This was his way of life which never changed. He was firm upon truthfulness in all situations.
In the course of Abu Sufyan’s (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) detailed narration with Heraclius, when the latter questioned him about the teachings of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), Abu Sufyan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) told them: “Worship Allaah Alone and do not associate anything with Him, and give up all that your ancestors said. He also commands us to establish the prayers, to speak the truth, to observe modesty, and to strengthen the ties of kinship.” [Al-Bukhaari]
‘Abdullaah ibn Salaam (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “When the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) came to Al-Madinah, people ran towards him saying: ‘Allaah’s Messenger has come, Allaah’s Messenger has come, Allaah’s Messenger has come’ so I came with the people to see him. When I checked his face, I knew that his face was not the face of a liar. The first thing that I heard him saying was: “O People! Spread the greeting (among you), feed (the poor and needy), join the kith and kin, offer Salaat when others are asleep so that you will enter Paradise in peace.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh At-Tirmidhi no. 2485 and Saheeh Ibn Maajah no. 2648]
3 – As-Sidq (Truthfulness) is a characteristic of the Prophets.
Allaah (Ta’ala) praised the Prophets (‘Alayhimus-salaam) with this attribute. In Surat Maryam [19:41], Allaah (Ta’ala) praised Ibraheem (‘Alayhis-salaam), saying:
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صِدِّيقًا نَّبِيًّا
“And mention in the Book (the Qur’an) Ibraheem (Abraham). Verily! He was a man of truth, a Prophet.”
Allaah (Ta’ala) also praised Isma’eel (‘Alayhis-salaam) saying in [19:54]:
إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّاوَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ۚ
“And mention in the Book (the Qur’an) Isma’eel (Ishmael). Verily! He was true to what he promised, and he was a Messenger, (and) a Prophet.”
And He (Ta’ala) praised Idrees (‘Alayhis-salaam), saying in [19:56]:
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِدْرِيسَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صِدِّيقًا نَّبِيًّا
“And mention in the Book (the Qur’an) Idris (Enoch).Verily! He was a man of truth, (and) a Prophet.”
Sources:
📚 Sharh Riyadh-us-Saliheen by Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen
📚 Truthfulness with Allaah, by Shaikh Abdur-Razzq Al-Badr
📚 Truthfulness leads to Righteousness, workshop conducted by Shaikha Anaheed As-Simeeri
📚 Tayseer Al-Kareem by Shaikh As-Sa’dee
📚 Tafseer Ibn Katheer
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