Truth, Lies, and Honesty: Insights module on Keeping Your Word

1. Being Truthful & Keeping Your Word Module 3 – Circle 1

2. What is lying and why do people lie? People may lie as part of self-presentation, in order to present a more favourable image to others.  People may also lie in order to minimize conflict, because lying may make disagreements less obvious.  Module 3 – Circle 1

3. What does the research say about lying? Research shows both men and women lie in approximately a fifth of their social exchanges lasting 10 or more minutes; over the course of a week they deceive about 30 percent of those with whom they interact one-on-one. Module 3 – Circle 1

4. What is honesty? Honesty incorporates the concepts of truthfulness and reliability and it resides in all human thought, words, actions and relationships.  It is more than just accuracy; it is more than just truthfulness, it denotes integrity or moral soundness.  Module 3 – Circle 1

5. What are the lies that people tell? Sometimes without thinking we will tell lies and not even remember them as lies. For example  When we tell the caller on the telephone we are not home, this is deceit.  When we refuse invitations and pretend we are busy, this is lying. When a shop assistant gives us too much change back, do we tell them and give the money back or do we put the money which is haram for us in our pockets.  Module 3 – Circle 1

6. Even before Islam which characteristics was the prophet Muhammed (PBUH) known for? Al Amin, the Prophet Muhammad once gathered all the people of Mecca and asked them, “O people of Mecca!  If I say that an army is advancing on you from behind the mountains, will you believe me?”  All said in one voice, “Yes, because we have never heard you telling a lie.”  All the people, without exception, swore to his truthfulness and honesty because he had lived an unblemished and extremely pious life among them for forty years. Module 3 – Circle 1

7. What did the prophets enemies think of him? Abu Sufyan described his honesty.  When Prophet Muhammad sent a letter to the Emperor of Byzantium inviting him to Islam, the Emperor, Heraclius sent for the Meccan trader, Abu Sufyan.  Even though he was, at that time, a dire enemy of Islam, he spoke the truth about Prophet Mohammad when he said, “He neither tells lies nor betrays others, he bids people to worship God Alone and orders us to observe prayer, honesty and abstinence” (Bukhari) Module 3 – Circle 1

8. What is the sign of the day of judgement which relates to honesty? Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour." It was asked, "How will honesty be lost, O Allahs Apostle?" He said, "When authority is given to those who do not deserve it, then wait for the Hour." (Bukhari). Module 3 – Circle 1

9. What are the signs of a hypocrite? Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The signs of a hypocrite are three: Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie; and whenever he promises, he breaks his promise; and whenever he is entrusted, he betrays (proves to be dishonest)"(Bukhari) Module 3 – Circle 1

10. The honesty of keeping your word when meeting people? “I order you to be truthful, for indeed truthfulness leads to righteousness, and indeed righteousness leads to Paradise.  A man continues to be truthful and strives for truthfulness until he is written as a truthful person with God.  And beware of falsehood, for indeed falsehood leads to sinning, and indeed sinning leads to the Fire.  A man continues to tell lies and strives upon falsehood until he is written as a liar with God.” (Saheeh Muslim) Module 3 – Circle 1

11. What does truthfulness lead to? “I order you to be truthful, for indeed truthfulness leads to righteousness, and indeed righteousness leads to Paradise.  A man continues to be truthful and strives for truthfulness until he is written as a truthful person with God.  And beware of falsehood, for indeed falsehood leads to sinning, and indeed sinning leads to the Fire.  A man continues to tell lies and strives upon falsehood until he is written as a liar with God.” (Saheeh Muslim) Module 3 – Circle 1

12. What is the effect of being truthful? Ali b. Abi Talib “Whoever does three things with regards to people, they will necessitate three things from him: whenever he speaks to them he is truthful; whenever they entrust him with something he does not betray them; and whenever he promises them something he fulfils it.  If he does this, their hearts will love him; their tongues will praise him; and they will come to his aid.” Module 3 – Circle 1

13. How can we guarantee paradise for ourselves? Narrated by Ubaadah, “Guarantee for me six things and I will guarantee Paradise for you: tell the truth when you speak, fulfill your promises, be faithful when you are trusted, safeguard your private parts, lower your gaze, and withhold your hands (from harming others).” (Bukhari and Muslim) Module 3 – Circle 1

14. Can we lie as a joke? Narrated byAbu Umamah “I guarantee a house in the middle of Paradise for the one who leaves off lying even if it be in jest.” (At-Tirmidhi) Reported by Mu‘awiyah b. Jaydah al-Qushayri “Woe to the person who lies to make people laugh!  Woe to him, woe to him!” (Abu Dawud) Module 3 – Circle 1

15. What helps us to stop lying? Narrated by Hudhaifa “Honesty descended from the Heavens and settled in the roots of the hearts of men (faithful believers), and then the Quran was revealed and the people read the Quran, (and learnt it from it) and also learnt from the sayings and traditions.  Both the Quran and the traditions strengthened their honesty. (Saheeh Al-Bukhari) Module 3 – Circle 1

16. Why should we not take the idea of trust lightly? In Islam, every believer is a brother or sister to the other; we are one body, one nation.  The right hand must be able to trust the left hand.  The commands and rules from God are designed for our benefit and Islam holds people’s rights in high esteem.  Module 3 – Circle 1

17. Which 3 people will Allah be an opponent of on the day of judgment? Prophet Muhammad explained the seriousness of upholding the rights due to others when he said, “God says, ‘There are three people whom I shall be their opponent on the Day of Judgment: A man who was given something in My Name and then betrays; A man who sells-off a free man (as a slave) and consumes the price; and A man who hires a labourer, makes use of his service then does not give him his wages.’” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari). Module 3 – Circle 1

18. An example of trustworthiness When Abu Ubayda was the commander of the Muslim armies in Syria, the Emperor of Byzantium set out with a large army to recapture Hims. Abu ‘Ubaida decided to evacuate the city because he had only a handful of soldiers.  He gathered the people of Hims in the middle of the city and announced, “We collected the protection tax from you because we planned to defend you. Now we are too weak. In this case, we return the tax we collected.”  All the taxes collected were returned to the non-Muslim people of Hims. Such was the depth of feeling and understanding displayed by the early Muslims. They were constantly aware of their obligations towards God, their brothers and sisters and those who were under the protection of the Muslim armies. Module 3 – Circle 1