Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "
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The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The Chapter on Truthfulness". The meaning of truthfulness is that the report corresponds to reality. This is the original meaning of truthfulness, and it applies to reports. If you report something and your report corresponds to reality, it is called truthfulness. For example, if you say, "Today is Sunday," this is a truthful report because today is Sunday. If you say, "Today is Monday," this is a false report. So, if a report corresponds to reality, it is truthfulness; if it contradicts reality, it is falsehood. Just as truthfulness exists in speech, it also exists in actions. Truthfulness in actions is when a person's inner state matches his outer appearance, such that when he performs an action, it is in accordance with what is in his heart. For example, the hypocrite in worship (mura'i) is not truthful, because he appears to people to be among the worshippers, but he is not. The one who associates partners with Allah is not truthful, because he appears to be a monotheist, but he is not. The hypocrite (munafiq) is not truthful, because he appears to have faith, but he is not a believer. The innovator (mubtadi') is not truthful, because he appears to follow the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), but he is not a follower.
The important point is that truthfulness is the report following reality. It is a characteristic of the believers, and its opposite is lying, which is a characteristic of the hypocrites. We seek refuge in Allah.
Then the author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned verses regarding this, saying:"And the saying of Allah the Exalted:[At-Tawbah 9:119] ": This verse was revealed after the mention of the story of the three who were left behind, who had stayed behind from the expedition of Tabuk, among them Ka'b ibn Malik, whose hadith we will mention, if Allah wills. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) returned from the expedition of Tabuk, these three had stayed behind without an excuse, and they informed the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that they had no excuse, so he left them, meaning he abandoned them. The meaning of[At-Tawbah 9:118] [At-Tawbah 9:95-96] .
As for these three, they were truthful to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). They told him the truth that they had no excuse; they had been left behind without an excuse. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) postponed them for fifty nights.[At-Tawbah 9:118] Then Allah sent down His acceptance of their repentance. Then He said afterwards: [At-Tawbah 9:119]. So Allah the Exalted commanded the believers to fear Allah and to be with the truthful, not with the liars.
And Allah the Exalted said:. This is part of the long verse that Allah the Exalted mentioned in Surat al-Ahzab: [Al-Ahzab 33:35] until He said: until He said: [Al-Ahzab 33:35]. So Allah mentioned the truthful men and the truthful women in a place of praise and in explaining the great reward they have. And He said the Exalted: [Muhammad 47:21]. If only they had been truthful to Allah, meaning: if only they had dealt with Allah with truthfulness, it would have been better for them. But they dealt with Allah with falsehood, so they became hypocrites and displayed the opposite of what was in their hearts. They dealt with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with falsehood, displaying that they were followers of him while they were actually opposing him. If only they had been truthful to Allah in their hearts, actions, and words, it would have been better for them. But they lied to Allah, and it became worse for them. And He said the Exalted: [Al-Ahzab 33:24]. So He said: [Al-Ahzab 33:24]. This indicates that truthfulness is a matter of great importance, and that it is a place for reward from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
So, O my brothers, we must be patient. We must be truthful. We must be frank. We must not hide matters from others out of flattery or showing off. Many people, when told about something they did that they were not pleased with, lie and say, "I did not do it." Why? Do you not feel shy of the creation and confront the Creator with lying? Speak the truth and let no one bother you. If you accustom yourself to truthfulness and report the truth, then in the future you will rectify your state. But if you report with falsehood and start concealing things from people and lying to them, then you will continue in your error. But if you are truthful, then you will correct your path and your methodology. Be truthful in what is for you and in what is against you, so that you may be with the truthful whom Allah commanded you to be with:[At-Tawbah 9:119].
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The Chapter on Truthfulness". The meaning of truthfulness is that the report corresponds to reality. This is the original meaning of truthfulness, and it applies to reports. If you report something and your report corresponds to reality, it is called truthfulness. For example, if you say, "Today is Sunday," this is a truthful report because today is Sunday. If you say, "Today is Monday," this is a false report. So, if a report corresponds to reality, it is truthfulness; if it contradicts reality, it is falsehood. Just as truthfulness exists in speech, it also exists in actions. Truthfulness in actions is when a person's inner state matches his outer appearance, such that when he performs an action, it is in accordance with what is in his heart. For example, the hypocrite in worship (mura'i) is not truthful, because he appears to people to be among the worshippers, but he is not. The one who associates partners with Allah is not truthful, because he appears to be a monotheist, but he is not. The hypocrite (munafiq) is not truthful, because he appears to have faith, but he is not a believer. The innovator (mubtadi') is not truthful, because he appears to follow the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), but he is not a follower.
The important point is that truthfulness is the report following reality. It is a characteristic of the believers, and its opposite is lying, which is a characteristic of the hypocrites. We seek refuge in Allah.
Then the author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned verses regarding this, saying:"And the saying of Allah the Exalted:
O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.
يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقينAnd [He also forgave] the three who were left behind
وَعَلَى الثَّلاثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا(95) They will swear by Allah to you when you return to them that you would leave them alone. So leave them alone; indeed they are evil; and their refuge is Hell as recompense for what they had been earning. (96) They swear to you so that you might be satisfied with them. But if you should be satisfied with them - indeed, Allah is not satisfied with a defiantly disobedient people.
سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انْقَلَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لِتُعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْ فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ * يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْ فَإِنْ تَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَرْضَى عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَAs for these three, they were truthful to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). They told him the truth that they had no excuse; they had been left behind without an excuse. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) postponed them for fifty nights.
to the point that the earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness and their souls confined them and they were certain that there is no refuge from Allah except in Him
حَتَّى إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوا أَنْ لا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا إِلَيْهِO you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَAnd Allah the Exalted said:
And the truthful men and the truthful women.
وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتIndeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women
إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتAnd the truthful men and the truthful women.
وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتfor them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.
أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةً وَأَجْراً عَظِيماًif they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them.
فَلَوْ صَدَقُوا اللَّهَ لَكَانَ خَيْراً لَهُمْThat Allah may reward the truthful for their truth and punish the hypocrites if He wills or accept their repentance
لِيَجْزِيَ اللَّهُ الصَّادِقِينَ بِصِدْقِهِمْ وَيُعَذِّبَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ إِنْ شَاءَ أَوْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْThat Allah may reward the truthful for their truth
لِيَجْزِيَ اللَّهُ الصَّادِقِينَ بِصِدْقِهِمْSo, O my brothers, we must be patient. We must be truthful. We must be frank. We must not hide matters from others out of flattery or showing off. Many people, when told about something they did that they were not pleased with, lie and say, "I did not do it." Why? Do you not feel shy of the creation and confront the Creator with lying? Speak the truth and let no one bother you. If you accustom yourself to truthfulness and report the truth, then in the future you will rectify your state. But if you report with falsehood and start concealing things from people and lying to them, then you will continue in your error. But if you are truthful, then you will correct your path and your methodology. Be truthful in what is for you and in what is against you, so that you may be with the truthful whom Allah commanded you to be with: