Al Haqq - The Absolute Truth that lies at the heart of Islamic teachings

Truth is one of the few ideas that every civilization has sought, yet different cultures and religions have emphasized different dimensions of it. At its simplest, truth is that which corresponds to reality. A statement is true if it accurately reflects what actually is. But religions and philosophies ask a deeper question: What is the ultimate reality upon which all other truths depend?

Their answers differ. Islam offers a particularly comprehensive view by combining objective truth, moral truth, and personal truthfulness.

Truth in Islam

In Islam, Truth (al-Ḥaqq) lies at the heart of Islam. The Qur'an does not merely command believers to tell the truth; it teaches that Allah Himself is the Ultimate Truth, His revelation is truth, His promises are truth, and a believer's life should be a testimony to the truth. In a world where deception is often wrapped in attractive words, Islam calls the believer to become a person whose heart, speech, and actions are aligned with reality as revealed by Allah.

What is the "real truth" in Islam?

The Qur'an uses the word al-Ḥaqq (The Truth) in several interconnected ways.

1. Allah is the Ultimate Truth

"That is because Allah is the Truth (Al-Ḥaqq)." (22:6)

Truth is not simply an idea or a fact; it is grounded in Allah Himself. Since Allah is perfect in knowledge and justice, whatever He reveals is the ultimate standard of truth. That is why, Al Haqq is one of the 99 attributes of Allah. You may like to know more about this attribute of Allah from one our earlier posts: 99 Attributes of Allah: Al Haqq - The Truth

2. The Qur'an is the Truth

"We have sent it down with the truth, and with the truth it has descended." (17:105)

The Qur'an is presented as the criterion (furqān) that distinguishes truth from falsehood (25:1). It is not merely informative but transformative, guiding people toward what is right.

Read more about this verse from our earlier posts: Qur'ān - The Al Furqan (The Criterion): Warner for the entire Mankind

3. The Prophet ﷺ came with the Truth

The Qur'an repeatedly states that Muhammad ﷺ brought the truth from his Lord. His teachings and example (the Sunnah) explain and embody the Qur'an.

Allah says: "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example." (33:21)

The Sunnah shows what truthful living looks like in practice.

Truthfulness in the Sunnah

One of the greatest prophetic teachings on this subject is:

"Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A person continues to speak the truth until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful one (ṣiddīq). Falsehood leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. A person continues to lie until he is recorded with Allah as a liar." — Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim

This hadith teaches that truthfulness is not merely an occasional act but a habit that shapes one's character and ultimately one's destiny.

Another famous hadith says: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent." — Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim

Islam therefore values truthful speech that is also beneficial and wise.

The Qur'an's view of truthfulness

Truthfulness is much broader than avoiding lies. It includes:

-    sincerity toward Allah,

-    honesty in speech,

-    integrity in business,

-    justice in testimony,

-    fulfilling promises,

-    consistency between words and deeds.

Allah commands: "O you who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are truthful." (9:119), and:

"O you who believe! Fear Allah and speak words that are straight (truthful and correct)." (33:70)

"...But most people do not know the Truth, and have, therefore, turned away from it. (24th verse of Surah 21. Al-Anbiyaa) - For explanation of this verse, refer to our earlier post: Most of the people do not know the Truth, and turn away

Truthfulness is therefore both an inward quality and an outward practice.

Can we be truthful today when lies are wrapped in truth?

This is one of the defining moral challenges of our age. The Qur'an warns:

"Do not mix the truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth knowingly." (2:42)

Notice that the verse does not only forbid outright lies. It also forbids mixing truth with falsehood. This is often more dangerous than a blatant lie because it sounds convincing.

Examples today include:

• selective facts that create a false impression,
• misleading headlines,
• manipulated images or videos,
• dishonest advertising,
• statistics presented without context,
• quoting someone accurately but out of context,
• using true statements to justify unjust actions.

The Qur'an anticipated this moral problem: truth can be distorted not only by fabrication but also by omission, manipulation, and misuse.

Is complete truthfulness still possible?

Yes—but it requires courage and humility. Truthfulness in Islam does not mean: (1) knowing everything, (2) never making mistakes, (3) or expressing every thought without wisdom.

Rather, it means:

• saying what you know to be true,
• admitting when you do not know,
• correcting yourself when you are mistaken,
• refusing to deceive,
• and seeking Allah's pleasure over public approval.

The Prophet ﷺ demonstrated this by never claiming knowledge he had not been given. The Qur'an instructs him to say:

"Say: I do not tell you that I possess the treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen..." (6:50)

That is admitting one's limits is itself an act of truthfulness.

Practical guidance for today

To live truthfully in an age of misinformation is the biggest challenge for everyone, whether believers or non believers - for lies harm everyone alike. That is why truth is at the heart of Islam and at many a place, man has been cautioned to side with the truth, no matter what the consequences. Following guidelines both from Al Qur'an and other moral means should always be adhered to to cling to the truth:

• Verify information before sharing it (49:6) - Read detailed explanation of this verse from our earlier post: Believers, when an ungodly person brings a piece of news, carefully ascertain its truth
• Judge fairly, even against yourself or those you love (4:135) - Read detailed explanation of this verse from our earlier post: Believers! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah
• Keep promises and fulfill trusts.
• Distinguish facts from assumptions.
• Avoid exaggeration, gossip, and slander.
• Say "I don't know" when you genuinely do not know.
• Let your actions match your words.

Truthfulness is not merely about avoiding lies—it is about becoming a trustworthy person.

The essence of truth in Islam

The Qur'an presents truth as a way of life rooted in Allah, the Ultimate Truth. A truthful believer aligns belief, speech, intention, and action with divine guidance. In an age where falsehood is often mixed with fragments of truth, Islam does not ask us to be clever manipulators but sincere seekers and witnesses of truth. The believer's task is to follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah as the criterion (furqān), speak with honesty and justice, verify what is heard, and remain steadfast even when truth is unpopular. 

As Allah promises: "Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is bound to vanish." (17:81)

It would be fare to conclude that there is no escape from being truthful no matter the consequences.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

| Resource references: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A. You may also refer to our refference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on important issue related to Islam to know more about Islam.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Believers! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah

Al-Qurʾān is that Divine Scripture from Allah that gives out a complete conduct of life to the mankind. It dwells at length on all facets of human life including Justice. In fact, Al-Qurʾān spells out detailed framework of jurisprudence which if implemented today in true letter and spirit would change the life of every human being, for it speaks of equality in justice for everyone without any inclinations.

We have already published a number of posts on Justice in Islam and the Justice on the Day of Judgement which can be accessed from the links given below:

• Selected verses from Al Qur'an on Justice / Rules of Islamic Laws
• Rules of Divine Court on Day of Judgement

Today, we share another ayat / verse to add to the already published posts by us on Justice in Islam. This verse is the 135th verse of Surah an-Nisā’ (4:135) which is one of the most powerful verses of the Qur’an on justice. Let’s carefully unpack it with context, other Qur’anic references, and the Prophet’s ﷺ Sunnah.

1. The Verse (4:135)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَىٰ أَن تَعْدِلُوا ۚ وَإِن تَلْوُوا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا

Translation (Yusuf Ali):

“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even if it be against yourselves, your parents, or your relatives. Be they rich or poor, Allah is nearer to them both. So follow not desires, lest you swerve, and if you distort or refuse to give testimony, then indeed Allah is ever Acquainted with what you do.”

Here we see the wise Qur’ānic method of educating the Muslim community in standing for justice. The trust they have been assigned is to maintain justice, in its absolute sense, in every situation. It is the sort of fairness which prevents aggression and oppression anywhere on earth. It guarantees justice between people, giving everyone, Muslim or non-Muslim, their rights. In their entitlement to justice, all people, believers and unbelievers, are equal in God’s sight, as we have seen in the incident involving the Jewish man in Madinah. Similarly, relative and stranger, friend and foe, poor and rich are treated with absolute equality. 

2. Context (Why it was revealed)

Surah an-Nisā’ deals with social justice, inheritance laws, rights of orphans, fairness in family and society. This verse came to emphasize that justice must not bend for personal ties—whether against oneself, parents, relatives, the rich (out of respect), or the poor (out of pity). 

The verse came at a time when the tribal/kin favoritism, in the pre-Islamic Arabia, at its peak and justice was meted out only to the rich and affluent or on basis of the strength/status of the tribe of strong kinship lineage. People were afraid to stand as witness against the powerful and thus sword of justice always fell on the meek and poor.

This verse thus came to correct the faulty and highly favoured system of Justice and to make Justice available to everyone, whether poor or rich.

3. Key Principles in the Verse

The above quote verse of justice gives out basics of justice in Islam:

• Justice is a duty of faith: “O you who believe…” makes justice a condition of true īmān / faith.
• Witnesses for Allah: Testimony is not just a legal duty but a form of worship, since it’s done for Allah’s sake.
• Against yourself/parents/relatives: 
• No favoritism, even toward the closest relations.
• At this point, the Qur’ānic method of education tries to place a person firstly in opposition to himself and secondly against his feelings towards his parents and kin. This is a very difficult task, much more difficult than stating it verbally or understanding its significance theoretically. To put this into practice is totally different from having a mental picture of what it involves. It is only the person who tries to do it practically that can understand its difficulty. Nevertheless, the Qur’ānic method prepares the hearts of believers for this hard task, because it must be put into effect: the rule must be stated and human individuals must abide by it.
• Rich or poor: Economic status cannot influence fairness.
• Avoid desires: 
• Greed, fear, tribal loyalty, love, or hatred must not sway judgment.
• Desires are of different types, some of which have already been mentioned. Love of oneself, one’s immediate family and other relatives is one type of desire, as is sympathy with a poor person when giving testimony or arbitrating. Being courteous or hostile to a rich person is another type of desire. In a situation of being a witness or making judgement, taking sides with one’s clan, tribe, community, nation or motherland is one desire, as is taking sides against one’s enemies, even though they are enemies to our faith. Desires have many other forms and God prohibits that we be influenced by any one of them in such a way that we deviate from truth and justice.
• Allah is All-Aware: No one escapes accountability for injustice.

The verse concludes with a clear warning against twisting the truth in one’s testimony: “If you distort [the truth] or decline to do justice, then [know that] God is indeed aware of all that you do.” It is sufficient for a believer to remember that God sees what he does to realise the seriousness of this warning and to tremble at what it means. We must not forget that this is addressed to people who really do believe.

4. Cross-References in the Qur’an

• Justice as a universal command “Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression.” (16:90)
• Justice even with enemies “Do not let the hatred of a people cause you to swerve from justice. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.” (5:8)
• Fulfill trusts and judge fairly “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due, and when you judge between people to judge with justice.” (4:58)
• Against bribery and distortion “Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly nor use it to bribe authorities in order to consume a portion of others’ wealth sinfully while you know.” (2:188)

5. Justice in the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ

• Justice is one of the heaviest responsibilities: The Prophet ﷺ said, “The most beloved of people to Allah on the Day of Judgment will be the just leader, and the most hated of people to Allah on the Day of Judgment will be the oppressive leader.” (al-Nasā’ī 5379, Ṣaḥīḥ)
• Warning against favoritism: When a woman from a noble tribe committed theft and people wanted the Prophet ﷺ to pardon her, he declared: “By Allah, if Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, stole, I would cut off her hand.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3475, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1688)
• This is a direct reflection of 4:135—justice must apply even against one’s own family.
• Justice as a condition of leadership: “Any leader appointed over ten people will be brought on the Day of Resurrection in shackles until justice brings him freedom or injustice brings about his ruin.” (Aḥmad 23408, authentic)

6. Lessons for Today

The Divine commandment in the above quoted verses is as applicable today as was 1400 years ago when Islam was being founded. The situation is no better, r should we say worse than the previous times and the strings of justice are pulled by the affluent and powerful and in most cases they are absolved of their misdoings and axe of justice falls on the poor and the defenseless.

We must learn from the verse and ensure:

• Justice against nepotism & corruption: Leaders, judges, and officials must not favor family or the rich.
• Fair economic systems: Neither pity for the poor nor reverence for the rich should distort justice.
• Neutral Courtrooms & testimonies: Witnesses must uphold truth even if self-incriminating.
• Implementation of fairness in our Personal life: Even in family disputes, inheritance, business, and daily dealings, a Muslim must be fair, even if it harms personal interest.
• Modern application: In politics, workplace, and law, Muslims should be role models of impartial justice.

Summary:

Surah an-Nisā’ (4:135) is a universal declaration of justice in Islam. It demands impartiality even against self-interest, family, or social pressure. This principle is reinforced by other Qur’anic verses (4:58, 5:8, 16:90) and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, who warned against favoritism and upheld justice even with his closest family. For today, it challenges us to stand against corruption, nepotism, tribalism, and discrimination, and to practice justice as a form of true faith.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 4. An Nisa (The Women) already published.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Resource References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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