Zeelah's Islamic Blog

Islam orders the Muslim to be honest to himself and others. This order repeatedly comes in the Noble Qur'an and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS). Islam orders the Muslim to tell the truth even if it is against the teller's interest. Orders him not to cheat or deceive other people. A Muslim is ordered by Allah to be honest in his words and deeds, privately and publicly alike.

Implication of Honesty

Honesty in words implies telling the truth in all cases and under all conditions. Honesty also implies fulfilling the promise, whether written or given orally, in text and spirit. Honesty also implies giving the right advice to the one who asks for it.

Honesty also implies doing one's work as sincerely and as perfectly as possible. Honesty also implies carrying out duties as fully as possible whether the person is supervised or not. Honesty means giving every person his due rights without his asking for these rights.

Honesty means doing the right thing in the right way at the right time. Honesty means objectivity in judgment, objectivity in evaluation, and objectivity in decisions of all types. Honesty implies the right selection of personnel and the right promotion of personnel, i.e., selection by merit and promotion by merit, not by temper or favouritism or personal relations.

Honesty is a blanket term that covers a wide range of traits. It covers telling the truth, sincerity in work, carrying out duties, fulfilling one's word, objective judgments, and objective decisions. Honesty is the opposite of lying, the opposite of bluffing, the opposite of hypocrisy, the opposite of favouritism, and the opposite of deceit.

External and Internal Honesty

By external honesty, I mean honesty, which is judged by other people. By internal honesty, I mean honesty which is judged by the person himself alone.

The reward of external honesty comes from Allah, from people, and from the psychological satisfaction the honest person feels. When you are honest, you are liked by God and people whom you deal with. Your honesty gives you the social approval you need and here comes the social value of honesty.

Further, when everybody is honest, a great deal of human problems disappear including lying, cheating, bluffing, stealing, forgery, and many other social diseases. In other words, honesty is something you give and something you take: others enjoy your honesty and you enjoy their honesty.

In the absence of honesty, many social diseases appear. If a person is dishonest, he is ready to tell lies, to bribe, to be bribed, to distort the truth, to cheat, to forge, to deceive others, and to break his promises. A dishonest person is a totality of diseases. He is ready to misbehave at any time. Each time he misbehaves, he causes a great disturbance or harm to one person or to a group of persons or to the whole nation, in some cases.

Internal Honesty: Thus honesty is a factor in the psychological health of the honest person himself and the health of other persons whom he deals with. However, Islam emphasises internal honesty, i.e., honesty which is judged by the person himself and cannot be seen by other people.

It often happens that a person acts privately. Sometimes we act with nobody seeing us. A believer in Allah feels that although no person is watching him, Allah is watching. This continuous watch of Allah develops the concept of internal honesty or conscience in the believer. This means that internal honesty becomes an overall strategy of the believer.

The Muslim is to be honest, internally and externally, privately and publicly, whether observed by other people or not, whether he acts or speaks. This overall honesty makes the Muslim confident of himself, of his behaviour, and of his words and deeds. Honesty makes the person feel that he trusts others and is trusted by others.

This mutual confidence makes the believer feel self-satisfied and socially secure.

Honesty implies unity of behaviour, unity of standards, and integrity of personality. Honesty implies being away from internal conflicts, social conflicts and self-contradiction.

Building Honesty

The important question, however, is this: how does Islam build honesty in the Muslim? Islam builds ethical qualities in general and honesty in particular in several ways:

1. Instructions. Allah orders the Muslim to be honest in all cases, in all deeds and words, to himself and others.

2. Reason. Allah shows the Muslim rationally that honesty is the best policy, even on utilitarian bases.

3. Reward. Allah promises the honest person generous rewards in the first life and in the second life.

4. Punishment. Allah threatens the dishonest person with severe punishment for his dishonest behaviour.

5. Practice. Allah develops the habit of honesty in the Muslim through actual practice, i.e., through fasting and prayer.

Thus Islam builds the habit of honesty in the Muslim through direct instructions, through rational arguments, through the reward and punishment principles, and through practice.

The Practice of Honesty

Taking fasting as an example, when a Muslim fasts, he should abstain from any kind of food or drink from dawn until sunset. This means that a fasting Muslim should not eat or drink for several continuous hours, including not engaging in sexual intercourse with his wife or her husband.

The important thing here is that a fasting Muslim does not allow a drop of water to go into his mouth from dawn until sunset in spite of his thirst, because he has learned to be honest, i.e., internally honest. The only observer of a fasting person is Allah and the person himself. Here is an actual and real practice of honesty exercised during the whole month of Ramadan.

Of course, one of the components of honesty is refusing to submit to temptations and impulses. In Ramadan, the Muslim is thirsty, but he does not drink; he is hungry, but he does not eat. In Ramadan, water is spatially near but psychologically far from the Muslim; water is near to the Muslim but far from his desire. This is a practical exercise of self-control and internal honesty.

So, Islam instructs the Muslim to be honest and trains him to be so. The outcome is a healthy self and a healthy social atmosphere that leads to the happiness of both the individual and the group.

Taken from: http://www.islamawareness.net

In one month time, we will celebrate Maulud Nabi. Maulud Nabi, Maulidur Rasul, Milad-un Nabi or Maulid (Mawlid - meaning birthday in Arabic) is the birthday celebration of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and is celebrated by Muslims.

Maulud Nabi is celebrated by Muslims on 12 Rabiulawal of the Islamic lunar calendar, the third month of the Muslim calendar, 570 C.E. (Common Era) in Makkah. The Prophet died on his 63rd birthday.

This year, Maulud Nabi falls on Mar 9.

There is no historical evidence that Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., his Companions, and the early followers after them celebrate or observe his birthday. On the contrary, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. was careful to warn his people not to imitate other faiths, whose followers elevated their prophets and added to the religion what was not in the original teachings. Despite this, large numbers of Muslims do commemorate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. because the birth of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. is regarded as a great blessing for the whole of humanity.

The Prophet’s birthday celebrations was first observed in the 13th century and rather than a big celebration, there are only restricted festivities on Maulud Nabi because the same day also marks the anniversary of the death of the Prophet.

The most important part of Maulud Nabi is focusing upon the character of the Prophet; on his teachings, sufferings, and how he forgave even his most bitter enemies; which I sometimes feel people now forget amidst the pomp and glory we put on show on the Day.

We are all tested in various ways by Allah (S.W.T.) in this world.  In the Qur’an, in Surah Baqarah (2: 155),  Allah States unequivocally that He will test us:

Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere,

In Surah Muhammad (47: 31) , Allah reiterates that we will be tested: 

And We shall try you until We test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patience; and We shall try your reported (mettle).

At work, we are sometimes denied a promotion, treated unfairly, or even fired.  At home, our children may be a test for us especially in this world of violence, drugs, illicit sex and video games.   Some of us may go through a divorce. Others may find that they have an illness that is very challenging.  Dear members of our family or friends may die.  Often, it is very trying on us, and many of us fall into despair.  It is important  during these times not to lose hope, but rather to exercise sabr or patience.  As Allah (S.W.T.) Himself says in the Qur’an (Surah Baqarah, 2: 286)

On no soul does Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray  “Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden Like that which You did lay on those before us; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us.  You are our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith.”

What is sabr or patience?

1. From the Seerah of the Prophet (s):

‘Ata ibn Rabah related that he heard Ibn ‘Abbas say: “Shall I show you a woman of Paradise?”I said: “Yes, indeed.” He said: “A black woman came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and said: ‘I suffer from epileptic fits, and because of these, (at times) my body becomes uncovered. Would you invoke Allah, the Exalted One, to cure me of this disease? ‘ The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: ‘If you wish, you can be patient and you will attain Paradise (for this suffering). But if you prefer, I will pray to Allah, the Exalted, to cure you of it?’ The woman said: ‘I will be patient,’ then added: ‘I become uncovered (when I have fits), so invoke Allah for me that I do not become uncovered. ‘ So the Prophet, peace be upon him, prayed for her.” [Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4, #1a]

2. Story of  ‘Urwah Ibn Al Zubair

‘Urwah Ibn Al Zubair had an operation, and the doctor amputated his leg.  One friend came to visit him. ‘Urwah thought that the fried came to pacify him for the loss of his leg. So ‘Urwah told the visitor: If you came to give me condolence for the loss of my leg, I already submitted to Allah with patience to reward me for its loss.  The guest told him, I came to inform you that your son fell down in a stable, and the animals stepped over him, and he died one hour ago. ‘Urwah said: O Allah! You took one child, and left me many…You took one organ from my body, and left me many organs…O Allah! You tested me with my body, and you were kind to leave me with good health.  You tested me with the loss of my son, but you were kind in leaving me the rest of my children.

If one is patient, and is among the ones described in the following manner in the Qur’an (Baqarah, 2: 256)

Who say, when afflicted with calamity: “To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return”:- 
Then here are the rewards Allah will give that person (2:157):

Rewards of Patience

1.  Blessings from Allah.  The patient person is blessed by Allah (S.W.T.)

2. Mercy of Allah.  When Allah (S.W.T.) gives someone His Mercy,  He will let him enter paradise with His Mercy.

3. Guidance of Allah.  A patient person will be guided by Allah (S.W.T.) in this world until he meets Him on the Day of Judgment.

Referring to those who are tested and endure with sabr or patience (2:155-156, see above), all of the above three rewards are mentioned by Allah Himself in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah (2: 157):

“They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance.”

In Surah Hud (11:11), Allah (S.W.T.) again promises to reward those who are patient in adversity:

Not so do those who show patience and constancy, and work righteousness; for them is forgiveness (of sins) and a great reward.

Patience during Illness
Source: Fiqh-Us-Sunnah, volume 4, #1a

Anyone suffering from an illness should remain patient, for there is no reward better or more enriching than that reserved for those who endure in patience.

Suhaib ibn Sinan narrated that the Prophet (s) said: “How remarkable is the case of the believer! There is good for him in everything, but this is not the case for anyone except for the believer. When the believer receives any good, he is thankful to Allah, and gets a reward. And when some misfortune befalls him, he endures it patiently, for which he is (also)
rewarded.”

Anas narrates: “I heard the Prophet (s) saying: ‘Allah says: “When I afflict a servant of mine with respect to his two most beloved things (meaning his eyes), and he endures it patiently, I grant him paradise in return‘.”

Taken from http://makkah.wordpress.com