Islam and Honesty
In simple words, Honesty implies saying the truth in every case whatever the conditions maybe. It implies the fulfillment of promises whether written or given orally. Doing one’s work as sincerely as possible and performing your duty whether you are supervised or not is also honesty. Honesty also means giving proper rights to every person without him asking for it.
Islam orders Muslims through the Quran and the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (SAS) to be honest to him and to others. A Muslim should tell the truth even if it is against your own interest. It also mentions not to betray or cheat your own brother. A short verse in the Quran mentions:
“Oh ye who believe! Eat not up each other’s property by unfair and dishonest means.” (4:29)
Another severe warning for those who cheat in weighing is mentioned:
“Woe to those that deal in fraud, – those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure, but when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due. Do they not think that they will be called to account- on a Mighty Day when (all) mankind will stand before the Lord of the Worlds.” (133: 1-6)
The Prophet (SAS) also condemned those who used to cheat in business saying:
“He who cheats is not of us. Deceitfulness and fraud are things that lead to Hell.”
Once Prophet (SAS) encountered a corn trader in the Medina market and He thrust His hand into the heap only to find out His fingers felt damped. When asked about it the trader replied that rain had fallen on it. The Prophet (SAS) said: “Why did you not keep the wet portion above the dry corn, so that people may see it? He who deceives is not one of us.”
Those traders who cheat customers by not showing the true product or hiding flaws of the product they are offering, from their customers are not among the true Muslims according to the judgment of Prophet (SAS) God-forbidding, they are going to end up in hell.
It is not permissible to lie to anyone except for some cases while making up between two people, or to an opponent during war, or lying to one’s wife to make her content with him. To praise someone or blame someone with falsehood is also not permissible. The Prophet Muhammad (SAS) said: “Lying is wrong, except in three things: the lie of a man to his wife to make her content with him; a lie in war, for war is deception; or a lie to settle trouble between people” (Ahmad, 6.459. H).”