'Abdullah reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "You must be truthful. Truthfulness leads to dutifulness and dutifulness leads to the Garden. A man continues to tell the truth until he is written as a siddiq with Allah. Beware of lying. Lying leads to deviance and deviance leads to the Fire. A man continues to lie until he is written as a liar with Allah."
The Virtue of Truthfulness
The Prophet ﷺ begins by commanding truthfulness (as-sidq), which is not merely verbal honesty but encompasses sincerity in all states - in speech, action, and intention. Truthfulness is the foundation of all spiritual stations.
"Truthfulness leads to dutifulness (al-birr)" - Here, birr refers to comprehensive righteousness encompassing all good deeds. This demonstrates that truthfulness isn't an isolated virtue but rather the gateway to all virtues, as one cannot attain true righteousness without foundational honesty.
The Spiritual Progression
The hadith outlines a spiritual progression: Truthfulness → Righteousness → Paradise. This shows the causal relationship between internal states and ultimate outcomes. The consistent practice of truthfulness transforms the soul, making it naturally inclined toward all forms of goodness.
"A man continues to tell the truth until he is written as a siddiq with Allah" - The term siddiq denotes one who is profoundly truthful, a rank just below that of prophets. This indicates that persistent truthfulness elevates a believer to the highest spiritual stations.
The Danger of Falsehood
"Beware of lying" - The Prophet's warning (iyyakum) employs the plural form, emphasizing this is a communal concern. Lying corrupts both individual souls and social trust.
"Lying leads to deviance (al-fujur)" - Fujur here means moral corruption and transgression of boundaries. Just as truthfulness builds character, lying dismantles moral restraints, making further sins easier to commit.
The Spiritual Descent
The downward spiral mirrors the upward path: Lying → Deviance → Hellfire. This symmetrical structure highlights the profound consequences of our moral choices.
"A man continues to lie until he is written as a liar with Allah" - Habitual lying sears the soul with this quality until it becomes one's defining characteristic in the divine record. This serves as a grave warning against underestimating "small" lies.
Practical Implications
Scholars explain that this hadith establishes truthfulness as fundamental to Islamic character (khuluq). It requires honesty in all matters - business transactions, personal relationships, and even in moments of jest.
The teaching emphasizes the transformative power of consistent practice. What begins as conscious effort becomes ingrained character, ultimately determining one's eternal abode and standing before the Creator.