HONESTY A STEP TOWARDS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

If man knows that Allah is omnipresent and omniscient, that He sees, hears and knows what we do in public and in private, and even our unexpressed thoughts, then it is not difficult for him to cultivate in himself the good qualities and virtues, that he can benefit himself along with attaining the benefits of this world and a better place in the hereafter. 

Virtues tantamount to honesty. And honesty which is a predominant aspect of faith and as a whole means: Righteousness, justice, trust, decorum, politeness, not lying, not cheating, not stealing, not committing adultery, being sincere, chaste, pure and ultimately always testifying to the truth.

The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) said: "Earning one's living honestly is also a duty and it is second only to the duties prescribed by Allah. The cleanest meal is that earned with one's own hands. Indeed, the Prophet Hadhrat Daawud (Alaihis Salaam) used to work with his own hands to obtain the food he ate. The trader who works with honesty will rise on the Day of Judgment in the company of the Prophets, Saints and Martyrs."

Islam places great emphasis on the honest aspects of every person's life, whether in business, at work, in our salats (prayers), in our actions and other things.

And, in verses 1 to 3, in Surah 83, Allah warns us against any fraudulent action both in commercial transactions and in other sectors of life. Cheating is as prohibited as fraud, corruption and bribery.

"Destruction be to the cheaters! Who when they take measure from mankind (when they are buying from others), demand (that their goods be given to them) in full. (They ensue that the seller does not weigh or measure less than what they are paying.) (However,) If they measure or weigh for people (when they are the sellers), they reduce (the weight or measurement of the commodity so that the buyer gets less than what he pays.) (83:1-3)

And Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) adds:

"He who cheats is not one of us. Deception and fraud are matters that lead to Hell."

Salah allows man (Insaan) to develop so much in the areas - physical, mental and moral, and requires from him the honest and sincere factor in its accomplishment. Therefore, hypocrisy, negligence and ostentation have no place in performing Salah.

And Allah, the Creator, sends a severe warning to believers in very clear terms:

“Destruction be for those performers of Salah (those Muslims who ought to be performing Salah) who neglect (to perform) their Salah (and) those who (when they do any good deed like performing Salah) are ostentations (show off)” (107:4-6)

If man is advancing towards his self-development, it is because he has already instilled in him the sense of sincerity, politeness, confidence, purity, truth, justice to such an extent that he honours his words, his promises and stays away from adultery, lies and hypocrisy. Islam teaches man these qualities so that he differentiates himself from hypocrites and evil doers: A tradition from the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) gives us an insight into the difference between a believer and a hypocrite: -

"The signs of a hypocrite are three: (1) When he speaks, he lies; (2) when he promises something, he does not keep his promise; (3) and when he is entrusted with something, he acts dishonestly." (Bukhari)

And the honest man will always fulfil his contracts even in the most difficult times because he knows that one day he will return to his Creator, Allah. Therefore, the man who continues to live in an honest way will contribute to his own development in this world (Dunya) and in the hereafter (Aakhirah).

[English version of "Honnêteté - Un pas vers l’épanouissement de l’homme" – Al Haadi – Vol. 1 No. 1]