TRUTHFULNESS IS THE FIFTH

 FAJR REMINDER: TRUTHFULNESS IS THE FIFTH

By: Umm Affān

Muḥarram 7, 1448 (22-June-2026)

The fifth condition of Lā ilāha ill-Allāh is Sidq (Truthfulness and Honesty). This condition stands in direct opposition to lies and falsehood. When a person declares Lā ilāha ill-Allāh (none is worthy of worship except Allāh), the question is: does he truly mean it? More importantly, do his actions reflect the reality of that testimony?

The true nature of this declaration becomes evident when a believer is tested. When trials arise because of Lā ilāha ill-Allāh, do you remain firm, relying solely upon Allāh for help, or do you turn to others, seeking from them what only Allāh can provide? Allāh (ﷻ) says: “Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: ‘We believe,’ and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allāh will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allāh knows all that before putting them to test).” [Sūrah Al-‘Ankabūt (29): 2-3]

A believer must therefore profess Lā ilāha ill-Allāh with complete truthfulness, so that the heart and the tongue are in perfect agreement. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “No one testifies that there is no God worthy of worship but Allāh and Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allāh, honestly from the heart, but that Allāh will forbid him from entering Hellfire.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 128, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 32] This Ḥadīth makes it clear that merely uttering the testimony is not enough. The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized that it must be spoken honestly from the heart. Otherwise, a verbal declaration unsupported by genuine faith is of no benefit and places a person among the lying hypocrites.

The Munāfiqūn (hypocrites) are the very opposite of those who fulfill this condition. They utter Lā ilāha ill-Allāh dishonestly and with corrupt intentions. They conceal disbelief in their hearts while outwardly appearing to be believers, either to gain the protection of the Muslims or to work against them from within. Regarding them, Allāh (ﷻ) says: “And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: ‘We believe in Allāh and the Last Day,’ while in fact, they believe not.” [Sūrah Al-Baqarah (2): 8] 

This decisive refutation is based upon Allāh's perfect Knowledge of what lies within their hearts, for their tongues proclaim what their hearts deny. Ibn Jurayj (Raḥimahullāh) described the hypocrite by saying: “His actual deeds are different from what he publicizes, what he conceals is different from what he utters, his entrance and presence are not the same as his exit and absence.” [Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr 2:8]

The hypocrites display faith outwardly while secretly harboring disbelief. They imagine that they can deceive Allāh just as they may deceive some of the believers. They assume that merely pronouncing Lā ilāha ill-Allāh will benefit them before Allāh, but such thinking only exposes the depth of their ignorance. No statement is accepted by Allāh unless it is accompanied by sincere faith, truthful conviction, and righteous actions.

I beseech Allāh (ﷻ) to protect us from hypocrisy, to make our tongues truthful, our hearts sincere, and our actions consistent with our testimony of Lā ilāha ill-Allāh. Aameen.