Be Trustworthy

Bismillaahir Rah’maanir Rah’eem. All praise to Allah. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved unlettered Prophet, his family, and his noble companions. I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan, and I begin in the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

The foundation of human society is built upon trust, as progress can only be achieved when individuals trust one another. When trust is compromised, life becomes significantly more challenging. Trustworthiness is a virtue that stems from the quality of eeman (faith). In a society where eeman thrives, trustworthiness prevails. Truthfulness, honoring commitments, and maintaining trust become prevalent. With the presence of eeman, society experiences remarkable progress. Individuals place their trust in one another, leading to a smoother and more comfortable life. Husbands trust their wives, employers trust their employees, and employees trust their employers, thereby creating an atmosphere of ease and comfort. Moreover, a trust-filled life in this world enhances the prospects of a beautiful afterlife. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized that only a hypocrite would speak lies, break promises, and betray trust, as these qualities are incompatible with the attributes of a true believer. Trustworthiness serves as a measure of one’s eeman, and as the Prophet ﷺ stated, “He is not a believer who lacks trustworthiness.” If an individual lacks trustworthiness, it indicates a deficiency in their true eeman.

Eeman (faith) plays a pivotal role in developing trustworthiness within an individual. Allah ﷻ commands us in Surah An-Nisa, verse 58: “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due.” This command emphasizes the importance of being trustworthy. When we experience a loss or absence of something in our lives, the associated meanings and concepts connected to it may also diminish or become limited. In the context of trustworthiness, if there is a lack of trust in society, the understanding of its true essence and significance can also become restricted. Generally, trustworthiness is associated with returning entrusted money or possessions. If a person fails to fulfill this responsibility and misuses the entrusted resources, it is considered a breach of trust. However, the concept of trustworthiness extends beyond mere financial matters. “Inna aradna al amanata” means “Indeed, we offered the trust.” Allah ﷻ bestowed the trust upon mankind, and when it was presented to them, they accepted it. The simple meaning of “amanah” is that if a person is entrusted with any matter and they fail to fulfill it completely, it constitutes a breach of trust.

If we employ an individual and entrust them with the responsibility of working for a complete 8 hours, but they do not fulfill this commitment while still receiving wages for the full duration, it constitutes a breach of trust on their part. Instead of dedicating their time to the appointed hours for which they are compensated, if they utilize that time for other purposes, it is a breach of trust. Similarly, if someone is entrusted with an office and they misuse the office resources, it is considered a breach of trust. Dealing with government-related tasks can often become challenging as we may encounter situations where the responsible officer is not present or available, leading to delays and uncertainty.

One common complaint we often hear today is that “no one is fulfilling my rights,” and this sentiment can be observed in various aspects of life, from household matters to court proceedings. Unfortunately, the focus on fulfilling our own rights has overshadowed the importance of fulfilling our responsibilities and obligations towards others. As fathers, husbands, employees, employers, and rulers, it is crucial for us to reflect on our duties and whether we are meeting the rights of those under our care or authority. Regrettably, this sense of self-reflection and accountability seems to have faded away. We constantly hear demands for “our rights,” but rarely do we encounter individuals asking themselves, “What are my obligations?” Unless we internalize this mindset and prioritize fulfilling our responsibilities, the rights of others will remain unfulfilled. Thus, the concept of amanah encompasses a broad spectrum of meanings and implications.

A person may diligently perform their prayers, but due to the corrupt environment that has influenced their understanding of trustworthiness, they believe it is their right to leave their workplace after only three hours instead of the designated six hours. They may also feel entitled to take government property for personal use, oblivious to the fact that this behavior goes against the teachings of Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ. It is important to recognize that lacking trustworthiness is an indication of weak faith (eeman). The Prophet ﷺ explicitly stated that a person who prays, fasts, but lies in their speech, breaks promise, and breaches trust exhibits clear signs of hypocrisy (munafiq). Therefore, despite engaging in various acts of worship, such an individual displays the characteristics of a hypocrite.

Allah ﷻ observes even the betrayal of a person’s eyes, and everyone is entrusted with the responsibility of caring for their body and soul. Every individual is entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding their body and being. While a person can lend their book to someone or even allow it to be torn, they have no right to write on a legal document and ask someone to harm them, as they do not possess ownership over their own life. Suicide is prohibited because one does not have authority over one’s body; it is an amanah (trust) given by Allah ﷻ. The eyes, ears, tongue, and every part of the body are all entrusted to an individual, and their life itself is an amanah. If a person misuses these entrusted blessings in a manner contrary to their intended purpose, it constitutes a significant betrayal (khayanat). Therefore, it is not befitting for a believer to commit acts of betrayal towards the blessings bestowed upon them by Allah ﷻ.

Today, one of the greatest challenges we face is the erosion of trust and integrity in every aspect of our lives, whether it is within families, workplaces, or society at large. The prevalence of betrayal and breach of trust has become widespread. Unfortunately, when individuals observe significant acts of betrayal by others, they tend to perceive their own minor transgressions as insignificant in comparison. This distorted perception arises from the corrupt state of society, where individuals rationalize their actions by comparing themselves to those who commit more severe breaches of trust. For example, someone may justify taking office supplies home because they see others misusing official resources or even taking full control of the office. This culture of corruption has permeated society, contributing to the decline of trust and accountability.

Everyone is prone to betrayal at their own level. It is common for individuals to criticize the betrayal of others in higher positions, but if they were to assume the same position, they would likely exhibit the same level of betrayal. Each person is inclined to breach trust to the best of their abilities. The unfortunate reality is that many individuals engage in such sinful behavior without even recognizing the gravity of their actions. This type of betrayal is considered a major sin, to the extent that our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has stated that such individuals lack true faith (eeman). As believers, it is imperative for us to be conscious of both the rights of our fellow human beings and the rights of Allah ﷻ. We must examine ourselves and hold ourselves accountable if we find any signs of betrayal (khayanat) in our lives. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has explicitly stated that a believer cannot engage in betrayal, lie, or break promises. If we find ourselves exhibiting such behaviors, it is a clear indication of hypocrisy (munafiq) and it is crucial to eradicate these qualities from our lives as soon as possible, as they are not befitting of a true believer. It is important to note that even if a person appears to be fulfilling their religious obligations such as performing salah and fasting, the presence of these negative traits indicates underlying characteristics of hypocrisy.

Indeed, trustworthiness is a significant measure of one’s faith (eeman), and it deserves utmost importance in our lives. Everyone should self-reflect and examine if any acts of betrayal (khayanat) are taking place in their own lives. This matter should be treated with great sensitivity, as even a slight disregard for trust can negatively impact the rights of others. It is crucial to understand that in terms of Allah ﷻ ‘s rights, if we sincerely repent and make changes in our lives, He ﷻ is Forgiving and Merciful. However, when it comes to the rights of His creation, it is their forgiveness that we should seek. Allah ﷻ is the Just, and the consequences of betraying the trust of others can be severe. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to take this matter seriously and strive to uphold trustworthiness in all aspects of our lives.

Once, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked his companions about the identity of the bankrupt person. They replied that a bankrupt person among them is someone who lacks wealth and possessions. The Prophet ﷺ corrected them and said that the true bankrupt individual in his Ummah (community) is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with abundant prayers, fasting, and charity. However, despite their virtuous acts, they will find themselves bankrupt because they exhausted their good deeds by reviling others, spreading false accusations, wrongfully consuming others’ wealth, causing harm to others, and engaging in physical aggression. As a result, their good deeds will be transferred to those who suffered at their hands. If their good deeds are not sufficient to settle the account, the sins of those they wronged will be added to their record, and they will be thrown into the Hellfire.

Thus, on the Day of Judgment, deeds will be the only currency, and it is through these deeds that the rights of others will be compensated. Therefore, it is crucial for us to rectify any wrongful actions and strive to make amends in this world. We should actively work on changing ourselves and seeking Allah’s forgiveness, expressing sincere regret for our past behavior. By seeking Allah’s help and guidance, we can distance ourselves from this detrimental habit. May Allah grant us all the ability (tawfeeq) to protect ourselves from this sin. Ameen.

-Sheikh Maulana Abdus Sattar (DB)