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. 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:

إ�ل�ى ﴿ ان�ات� م�األ� ت�ؤ�د وا أ�ن ك�م� ر� م�

ي�أ� الله� �إ�نا ل�ه� ه�

﴾أ� : [58النساء]

This means:

“Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom

they are due.”

(An-Nisa’: 58)

Allah says:

الله� ﴿ ون�وا ت�خ� ال� ن�وا آم� ال�ذ�ين� ا ي ه�� أ ي�ا

نت�م� � أ و� ان�ات�ك�م� م�

أ� ون�وا ت�خ� و� ول� س� �الر و� ﴾ت�ع�ل�م�ون�

: [27األنفال]

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:

و�ات� ﴿ م� �الس ع�ل�ى ان�ة� م�األ� ن�ا ض� ع�ر� �ن�ا إ

ب�ال� ال�ج� و� ض� ر�و�األ�

ا ن�ه� م� ن� ق� ف� ش�أ� و� ا ل�ن�ه� م� ي�ح� ن

أ� ب�ي�ن�� أ ف�

اإل�نسان� ا ل�ه� م� و�ح� = وال ه� ج� ظ�ل�وما= ك�ان� �ن�ه� ﴾إ

: [72األحزاب]

This means:

“Truly, We did offer Al Amanah (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)

And says:

ائ�ن�ين� ﴿ ال�خ� ي�ح�ب ال� الله� � ﴾إ�ن :   [58األنفال]

This means:

“Certainly Allah likes not the treacherous.”

(Al-Anfal: 58)

Allah also says:

�ن�ه� ﴿ إ ف� ا ه� ي�ك�ت�م� و�م�ن اد�ة� ه� �الش ت�ك�ت�م�وا و�ال�ل�ب�ه� ق� Fآث�م

Fع�ل�يم ل�ون� ت�ع�م� ا ب�م� الله� ﴾و� : [283البقرة]

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:

ون� ﴿ ت�ت�ق� أ�ال� Fن�وح وه�م� خ�أ� م� ل�ه� ال� ق� * إ�ذ�

Fين م�أ� Fول س� ر� ل�ك�م� �نLي             ﴾إ

(107-106الشعراء: )

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:

. إ�نLي ون� ت�ت�ق� الأ� Fه�ود وه�م� خ�

أ� م� ل�ه� ال� ق� إ�ذ� Fين م�أ� Fول س� ر� (125 - 124: الشعراء) ل�ك�م�

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)

Allah says:

Fح ن�اص� ل�ك�م� � ن�ا� أ و� بLي ر� االت� ر�س� ب�لLغ�ك�م�

� أFين م�

أ�(68: األعراف)

This means: “I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord, and I am a

trustworthy adviser (or well wisher) for you.” (7, Al-A`raf: 68)

Allah says:

. إ�نLي ون� ت�ت�ق� الأ� Fال�ح ص� وه�م� خ�

أ� م� ل�ه� ال ق� إ�ذ� Fين م�أ� Fول س� ر� (143 - 142: الشعراء) ل�ك�م�

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:

. إ�نLي ون ت�ت�ق� الأ� Fل�وط وه�م� خ�

أ� م� ل�ه� ال� ق� إ�ذ� Fين م�أ� Fول س� ر� (162 - 161: الشعراء) ل�ك�م�

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:

. ل�ك�م �نLي إ ون� ت�ت�ق� الأ� Fع�ي�ب ش� م� ل�ه� ال� ق� إ�ذ�

Fين م�أ� Fول س� (178 - 177: الشعراء) ر�

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:

م� اءه� و�ج� ع�و�ن� ر� ف� و�م� ق� م� ب�ل�ه� ق� ت�ن�ا ف� د� ل�ق� و� . الل�ه� ب�اد� ع� ��ل�ي إ د وا

أ� أ�ن� Fك�ر�يم ول س� ر� Fين م�أ� Fول س� ر� ل�ك�م� �نLي إ

(18 - 17: الدخان)

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:

�ن�ه� ﴿ إ ف� ا ه� ي�ك�ت�م� و�م�ن اد�ة� ه� �الش ت�ك�ت�م�وا و�ال� Fع�ل�يم ل�ون� ت�ع�م� ا ب�م� الله� و� ل�ب�ه� ق� Fآث�م﴾

: [283البقرة]

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:

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:

ع�ل�ى ﴿ ون� ي�م�ش� ال�ذ�ين� م�ن� ح� �الر ب�اد� و�ع� ... = نا و� ه� ض� ر�

: ﴾األ� [63الفرقان]

This means:

“And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in

humility.

(Al-Furqan: 63)

Allah says:

ل�ن ﴿ �ن�ك� إ = حا ر� م� ض� ر�األ� ف�ي ت�م�ش� و�ال�

= ط�وال ب�ال� ال�ج� ت�ب�ل�غ� ل�ن و� ض� ر�األ� ر�ق� ت�خ�

: ﴾ 37اإلسراء]

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:

ف�ي ﴿ ت�م�ش� و�ال� للن�اس� د�ك� خ� عLر� ت�ص� و�ال�ت�ال\ خ� م� �ك�ل ي�ح�ب ال� الله� �إ�ن = حا ر� م� ض� ر�

األ�م�ن* و�اغ�ض�ض� ي�ك� م�ش� ف�ي د� و�اق�ص� ور\ خ� ف�

و�ت� ل�ص� و�ات� ص�األ� نك�ر�

أ� �إ�ن ت�ك� و� ص�ير� م� ﴾ال�ح�

: 19، 18لقمان]

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)

And says:

ن�ين�... ﴿ ؤ�م� ل�ل�م� ك� ن�اح� ج� ف�ض� ﴾و�اخ� [88 : رالحج]

This means:

“And lower your wing to the believers.”

(Al-Hijr: 88)

Allah says:

﴿ � ال ل�ل�ذ�ين� ا ع�ل�ه� ن�ج� ة� ر� أآلخ� الد�ار� ت�ل�ك� = ادا ف�س� وال� ض� ر�

األ� ف�ي ا= bع�ل�و ي�ر�يد�ون�ين� ت�ق� ل�ل�م� ب�ة� ال�ع�اق� ﴾ و�

: [83القصص]

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:

�يت�اء� ﴿ إ و� ان� و�اإل�ح�س� بال�ع�د�ل� ر� م�ي�أ� الله� �إ�ن

ب�ى ر� ال�ق� ﴾ذ�ي : [90النحل]

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:

إ�ل�ى ﴿ ان�ات� م�األ� ت�ؤ�د وا أ�ن ك�م� ر� م�

ي�أ� الله� �إ�نأ�ن الن�اس� ب�ي�ن� ت�م ك�م� ح� إ�ذ�ا و� ا ل�ه� ه�

أ�ب�ال�ع�د�ل� وا ك�م� ﴾ت�ح�

: [58النساء]

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:

ين� ﴿ و�ام� ق� ك�ون�وا ن�وا آم� ال�ذ�ين� ا ي ه�� أ ي�ا

ك�م� س� أ�نف� ع�ل�ى ل�و� و� ل�ل�ه� د�اء� ه� ش� ط� س� ب�الق�غ�ن�يeا ي�ك�ن� إ�ن ب�ين� ر� ق�

و�األ� ال�د�ي�ن� ال�و� و�أ�

ت�ت�ب�ع�وا ال� ف� ا م� ب�ه� ل�ى و�أ� الله� ف� يرا= ق� ف� و

أ�ت�ع�د�ل�وا أ�ن و�ى ﴾ال�ه�

: [ 135النساء]

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:

ل�ل�ه� ﴿ ين� و�ام� ق� ك�ون�وا ن�وا آم� ال�ذ�ين� ا ي ه�� أ ي�ا

ن�آن� ش� ن�ك�م� ر�م� ي�ج� و�ال� ط� س� ب�ال�ق� د�اء� ه� ش�ب� ر� ق�

أ� و� ه� اع�د�ل�وا ت�ع�د�ل�وا �الأ� ع�ل�ى و�م\ ق�

ا ب�م� Fب�ير خ� الله� �إ�ن الله� وا ات�ق� و� و�ى ل�لت�ق�ل�ون� ﴾ت�ع�م�

: [8المائدة]

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 Well Acquainted with what you do.”

(Al-Ma’idah: 8)

Allah says:

ب�ى ﴿ ر� ق� ذ�ا ك�ان� ل�و� و� اع�د�ل�وا ف� ل�ت�م� ق� �ذ�ا إ ﴾و� : [152األنعام]

This means:

“And when you speak, then be just, even if it should be to a near kinsman.”

(Al-An`am: 152)

Allah says:

ل�ئ�ك� ﴿ و�أ� ف� ه� ظ�ل�م� ب�ع�د� ر� انت�ص� ل�م�ن� و�ب�يل\ س� مLن اع�ل�ي�ه�م ﴾م�

: [41الشورى]

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;

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)