Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
29 August 2025 / 5 Rabiulawal 1447H
Truthfulness; The Key to Paradise
Dear beloved congregation,
Every believer surely longs to gaze upon the face of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Therefore, let the longing to meet him be the motivation for us to sincerely and earnestly strive to be mindful of Allah by fulfilling His commands and avoiding His prohibitions.
My dear brothers,
Do you believe that there is one ethic or moral principle that can guarantee us Paradise? The Prophet s.a.w. once said that which means:
“Indeed, truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A person will continue to speak the truth until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful person...”
My beloved brothers,
Truly, the quality of truthfulness shapes the entire life of a believer. This trait provides a positive influence into how a person speaks, behaves — whether in public or in private — and interacts with the creation of Allah.
If truthfulness is the key that will lead us to Paradise, then falsehood, on the other hand, will drag us into the Hellfire. This is in accordance with the continuation of the same hadith of the Prophet s.a.w. which means:
“…And indeed falsehood leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Hellfire. A person will continue to lie until he is recorded with Allah as a persistent liar.” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)
My dear brothers,
A true believer strives to always speak the truth and make it a defining part of their character, to the point that they become known for it. At the same time, a believer puts sincere effort into eliminating falsehood from their way of life. To achieve this goal, we must reflect and re-evaluate whether falsehood exists in our lives through two aspects: our speech and our actions.
First: In our speech.
Falsehood in speech can manifest through acts such as slander, insults, and other similar behaviours. At times, even in the name of humour or jest, speech that contains falsehood becomes normalised in our conversations.
Second: In our actions.
Falsehood in actions often appears in the form of hypocrisy — presenting a good outward image while concealing true inner wickedness. It can also occur by betraying trust and breaking promises.
Blessed congregation,
The importance of being truthful is becoming increasingly evident in this age of boundless digital interaction. Digital platforms — although they bring many positive impacts and benefits — are not free from negative elements that often blur the line between truth and falsehood. These platforms can become mediums for spreading hatred, defaming others, portraying false images, and much more. This, too, is a form of falsehood.
A truthful believer is consistent in character. Their persona remains the same. Whether in the digital world or otherwise, whether in appearance or in heart, they always uphold truth and honesty. And why is this, dear brothers? This is because a believer is fully aware that Allah sees everything they do, hears everything they say, and knows everything they conceal from others.
If we wish to share information or express opinions on digital platforms, let us ensure that what we share is beneficial to society, not something worthless, or misleading. Let us be truthful in what we share.
Lovers of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.,
As true lovers of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., we must always uphold truthfulness in our speech, our actions, and even within the voices of our hearts. We must never, under any circumstance, align ourselves with falsehood. We are only truly deserving of claiming love for the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. if we sincerely and earnestly strive to be truthful, as exemplified by him s.a.w. Let us take to heart the divine command revealed to the Prophet s.a.w. in Surah At-Tawbah, verse 119:
Which means: "O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are truthful."
O Allah, forgive our mistakes, admit us into Your Paradise, so that we may meet Your beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., and so that we may be gathered together with the prophets and those who were truthful in their faith in You. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
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