He was truthful to Allah, so Allah was truthful to him

In the name of Allāh, ar-Raḥmān (the most merciful), ar-Raḥīm (the bestower of mercy).

“He was truthful to Allāh, so Allāh was truthful to him…”

This statement was made by the Prophet ﷺ regarding a simple man, a Bedouin. The story of this man is a lesson for us all in following up our statements with truthful actions.

‘A bedouin came to the Prophet ﷺ, wanting to accept Islām. The Prophet ﷺ explained the tenets of Islām to him, he accepted them and affirmed his imān in Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ.

He then said,

O Messenger of Allāh, can I migrate with you [to Madīnah]?

The Prophet ﷺ permitted him to migrate, and advised some of his other companions to look after him whilst in Madinah and teach him the religion.

One day there was a battle in which the Muslim army was victorious, fighting with them was this bedouin . Due to the victory of the Muslims, the Prophet ﷺ gained a lot of war booty. So he divided the war booty; each companion who fought in the battle would receive his fair share, he also reserved some of it for the man.

He gave the war booty to each person, however the bedouin was still in his battle position standing guard at the rear of the army.

When the man returned, the other companions gave him his allotted share of the war booty.

Upon seeing this wealth being offered to him, he remarked,

What is this?

The people replied,

This is your share of the booty which the Prophet ﷺ reserved for you.

He took it, went to the Prophet ﷺ and placed it before him, and then,

 [O Prophet of Allah], I did not follow you for this. I only followed you so I am shot here with an arrow – he pointed towards his throat – I die and then enter into Paradise.

He meant by this, that I did not accept Islam, believe in you, follow you across the lands and join you in battle for any worldly gain.

The Prophet ﷺ said,

 If you are truthful to Allāh, He will be truthful [in his reward] to you.

They remained for a while, and another battle ensued against the enemies. The Muslims once again rose up and pushed on.

In the second battle, there were a number of Muslim soldiers who were martyred, among them was this bedouin man. His body was carried and brought to the Prophet ﷺ. He had been martyred after a courageous battle. He was killed by a single arrow that struck him in the very place he had pointed to (i.e. his throat).

When the Prophet ﷺ saw him he said,

Is this him?

The companions said,

Yes.

He said,

He was truthful to Allāh, so Allāh was truthful [in rewarding] him.

The bodies of the martyrs were all collected, and the Prophet shrouded the man in his own cloak. He placed his body in front of him and then prayed upon him. He the Companions could hear the Prophet supplicating for him, saying,

O Allāh, he was your worshipper, he left [Makkah] as a muhājir (migrant), he died as a shahīd (martyr) and I am witness to all this. [1]

This beautiful ḥadīth is a lesson and admonishment to us all; an example of true obedience to the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ. It demonstrates what is required from us all: sincerity of intention, seeking Paradise, and sacrificing for Islām.

The man in the story was certain in his faith, sincere in his intention and truthful in his desire, so “Allāh was truthful to him” by guiding him to fulfil his yearning desire, and rewarding him.

If we are truthful to Allāh, Allāh will be truthful to us in guiding us to the best of this life and the Hereafter.

{Among the believers are men, truthful to what they promised Allāh. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death], and among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration} [33:23]

{Allāh will say, “This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.” For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment} [05:119]

O Allāh bestow upon us truthfulness in our speech and actions.

O Allāh, show us the truth as being the truth and then guide us to implementing it.

O Allāh, show us falsehood as being falsehood and guide us to avoiding it.

Written by the one in need of Allāh,

Abul Abbaas Naveed Ayaaz
Nelson, Lancashire.

9 Rabee’ ath-Thaani 1436h
Corresponding to 1st February 2015

Footnotes

[1] The ḥadīth has been narrated by Shaddād ibn al-Hād; Collected by an-Nasāī & Bayhaqī. It has been paraphrased in this article for the sake of readability, however the statements of the Prophet ﷺ are mentioned in full.