The fourth quality is veracity. It means that a person’s intention, words and deeds are upright and in harmony with one another. A person should not utter a single word which is untrue, his deeds should not contradict his words and if he adheres to every word he gives, then this is the veracity of his words and deeds; however, this should necessarily be supplemented with the veracity of his intentions. The Quran has termed it as ikhlas (sincerity) and its antithesis as hypocrisy and at various places clarified that to God the real deeds are those which spring forth from within a person; thus the pinnacle of veracity is achieved through this harmony of words and deeds and intention. The Quranic words

(23: 33) صَدَقُوْا مَا عَاهَدُ اللهِ عَلَيْه (those who made a promise with God and then fulfilled it, (33:23)) point to this very aspect; ie. truth and veracity should manifest themselves in the words uttered by the tongue, by the intention of the heart and by every deed done. The Quran says:

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتَابُوا وَجَاهَدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ (15:49)

True believers are those who professed faith in God and His Messenger and then never remained in any doubt and fought with their wealth and with their persons in the cause of God. Such are those who are veracious. (49:15)

(Javed Ahmed Ghamidi)

(Translated by Dr. Shehzad Saleem)