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