Question

What is the status of the following words which are commonly heard in the Khutbah of Jumu’ah:

عليكم بالصدق فإن الصدق ينجي والكذب يهلك

Hold on to [speaking] the truth for the truth will save and lies destroys

 

Answer

I have not come across these words as a Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

This seems to be derived from the following Hadith – among other texts -:

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Truthfulness leads to piety and piety leads to Jannah. A man continues to be truthful until he is recorded as truthful by Allah. Lying leads to evil and evil leads to Jahannam. A man continues to lie until he is recorded as a liar by Allah.”

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 6094 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2607)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar