How to Tell the Truth (in a not-so-truthful world)
By: Faisal Amjad
Tags: Fake News, Justice, Truth, Islam, Knowledge

Photo by Sushil Nash on Unsplash

How to Tell the Truth (in a not-so-truthful world)

Truth and justice are inextricably linked in Islam

Ibn Masud (RA) once said: “You are living in a time where truth controls the desires but there will come a time where the desires will control the truth. We seek refuge in Allah from such a time.”

Quite a profound statement — and one very much we’re currently living the reality of in today’s fake-news, deceptive age.

As George Orwell once wrote,

“in a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”

So, how do we control our desires, so we can hold on to the truth, and be a modern-day revolutionary?

It’s the wrong question, in my opinion. Why?

First of all, it is subjective. So what might be controlling desires for one person might not be as relevant for another. And secondly because people can manipulate emotionally and justify their reasons for what they believe ‘truth’ to be. And it can become a grey area.

It’s hard to get to the bottom of it, using abstract concepts.

Central to truth is the concept of justice. That’s the root.

Truth cannot exist without justice being done, as justice maintains the order and integrity. Without it, you descend into zulm, chaos and oppression. That’s the impact that lies and falsehood can have on families, on communities, on societies at large.

Justice is also objective. It’s clear given the frameworks in Islam, what classifies as justice if applied properly.

Justice in Arabic is translated as ‘adl which literally means “placing things in their rightful place” and also “affording equal treatment to others”. So it is not just putting things right, it is doing so in a way that is fair and equitable. And it means that EVERYONE has the right to it, just as everyone has the right to the truth. Not just to those in high positions.

It is said in the Quran:

“And when you speak, be just, even if it should be to a near kinsman.” [6:152]

Justice is required of anyone who is called upon to lead a people whether he is a ruler or otherwise. God said in the Qu’ran:

“Surely God enjoins justice and the doing of good.” [16:90]

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also said:

“One hour of justice outweighs sixty years of worship.”

So the right question is, how can we do justice?

Justice in Islam entails the following:

Doing justice is easy to say and hard to do.

Justice in Islam is such, that you must stand firm for justice over your kin, siblings or parents, or even the leader or governor. It’s a huge undertaking, if you’re truly committed to it.

To quote George Orwell again —

“the further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.”

Be prepared for being unpopular.

2. You must hear both sides of the story unreservedly, without judgement, bias or duress.

3. Witnesses must be called where relevant and available. And the witnesses MUST be of sound mind, credible and of good character so that the integrity of the testimony cannot be questioned.

4. The evidence is to be presented in clear manner. No legalese, or befuddling, confusing language designed to sway you emotionally or influence you to believe against what the truth actually is.

5. To verify ALL the evidence and statements made. This is EXTREMELY important.

“O you who believe! If a Faasiq (liar — evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done” [49:6]

What is meant by verifying is making the effort to find out the truth of the matter, and the circumstances around it, so as to establish whether this can be proven or not, with certainty. This is the key.

Often not verifying is where our desires take control, as we are not willing to take the effort needed to verify either because it’s difficult or time-consuming. So we pass on unverified information without justice being done.

6. We must at all times contain our own anger or feelings and act calm throughout the proceedings, no matter how the situation makes us feel.

A cool head is able to administer justice, correctly — and that same logic applies to truth, too. Often those who are emotionally driven or impacted may jump to conclusions that support their world view.

7. To reserve your own judgement until it has been proven, until the very end.

Al-Hasan al-Basri said: “The believer reserves judgement until the matter is proven.”

Even if it is crystal clear and a no-brainer, and all the evidence is suggesting something strongly — you still have to commit to the possibility of evidence coming in last minute which could proven everything to the contrary.

8. Once the evidence is in and the case has been made, we should then take time to deliberate the decision — as haste is from the devil.

The Prophet (SAW) said: “Deliberation is from Allah and haste is from the Shaytan.”.

The one who deliberates may meet all the needs required whilst the one who is hasty may slip up and miss something important.

9. We have to take full context into account, including past reputation, character, motives and previous history. This is also important. Nothing is black and white. You have to consider all aspects to come to a satisfactory conclusion that does justice to all parties.

10. Ask questions until you are satisfied. Do not fear questioning. Do not feel shy that you have asked too many. Justice is a matter of yaqeen, conviction and certainty in the heart — but be sincere to the truth in doing so — not to use questioning as a means to intimidate or oppress.

11. To never ever give false speech, allegations or witness. For it has been mentioned in a hadith alongside shirk and disobedience to parents.

12. It is not something only reserved for rulers or leaders. Everyone must administer justice. The Prophet (SAW) said:

“You are all shepherds and you are all responsible for your flocks. The ruler is the shepherd of his people and he is responsible for them. The man is the shepherd of his family and he is responsible for them. The woman is the shepherdess of her husbands house and children and she is responsible for them. And the slave is the shepherd of his master’s property and is responsible for it. So, you are all shepherds and you are all responsible for your flocks.”

13. It’s not something you can pick and choose on a case by case basis. You are either someone who tells the truth always or not. Which means you are either just and just always, or not. It’s a binary decision. And your reputation will be formed accordingly. There’s a reason why the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was known by the name ‘Al-Amin’ ‘the truthful / trustworthy’ in his youth.

14. Truth and justice work hand in hand and it is the key to a functioning, thriving society.

It was said by Sa’id ibn Suwayd:

“O People, Islam has an unassailable wall and a sturdy gate. The wall of Islam is truth and its gate is justice. As long as the ruler is strong, Islam will remain unassailable; but the strength of the ruler lies not in the sword or the whip, but in ruling on the basis of truth and justice.”

15. In fact, it was always considered by far THE most important quality of any leader.

The ruler must spread out a carpet of justice for his people, erect a tent of security and fly the banners of forbearance with their fluttering tassels. He must pour out rivers of charity for them, restraining the hands of iniquity reaching them, whilst showering them with the rain clouds of noble deeds. The most important of all the aforementioned qualities is justice.

[The Ultimate Ambition in the Arts of Erudition, Shihab al Din Al Nuwayri]

16. Ibn Khaldun wrote in his Muqaddimah, his concepts of statecraft and how a leader can run a successful nation. Justice, of course, is at the heart of it. His key points can be summarised, below:

a. The strength of the sovereign does not materialise except through the implementation of the Shariah.

b. The Shariah cannot be implemented except by the sovereign.

c. The sovereign cannot gain strength except through the people.

d. The people cannot be sustained except by wealth.

e. Wealth cannot be acquired except through development.

f. Development cannot be attained except through justice.

g. Justice is the criterion by which God will evaluate mankind.

h. The sovereign is charged with the responsibility of actualising justice.

In a nutshell — you can see the burden required on being of those of justice in Islam. It’s no small thing. But it is the bedrock and foundation of goodness in society as we know it.

So, if you want to tell the truth, be just. If you hold yourself accountable for delivering justice in the right way, you will stand out and shine as someone who speaks sheer truth even more especially in a world which is notoriously becoming the opposite.