Chapter VII: Intention, Sincerity and Truth
The sage Wahab-b-Monabbah said : I saw written by the side of the Torah 22 wise counsels The religious people of the children of Israel collected them and used to read them. (1) No jewel is more valuable than wisdom. (2) No property is more profitable than patience. (3) No vice is more injurious than anger. (4) No friend is more enchanting than divine service. (5) Nothing is more shameful than ignorance. (6) Nothing is more honourable than God fear. (7) Nothing is more honourable than renunciation of passions. (8) Nothing is more benefiting than pondering. (9) Nothing is more meritorious than forbearance. (10) No guilt is more dishonourable than pride. (11) No medicine is more soothing than mildness. (12) No disease is more painful than foolishness. (13) No emissary is more just than truth. (14) No proof is more instructive than truthfulness. (15) No want is more disgraceful than temptations. (16) No property is more unfortunate than saving. (17) No life is sweeter than health. (18) No livelihood is easier than self abnegation. (19) No divine service is better than modesty-. (20) No renunciation is better than self- contentment. (21) No guard is more trustworthy than silence. (22) No unseen thing is nearer than death.
The great sage M ahmmad Ibn Sayyed said : When you seek God with sincerity. He comes to you as a mirror in your hand wherein you can see every wonderful thing of this world and the next world. Hazrat Ibn Abbas said : He who has got these four qualities is successful - truthfulness, shame, good conduct and gratefulness. Some pious man said : The learned and the theologians agreed with regard to three things. When these three things are found in a person, he will get salvation and one thing is not made perfect without the help of another - (1) Islam or self surrender freedom from innovation and passion, (2) sincerity in
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divine service and (3) lawful food. The great sage Sahal Tastari' was asked : What is the foundation of what we are in? He said : Truthfulness, generosity and courage. He was asked : Give us more admonition, He said : God-fear, truthfulness shame and lawful food.
TRUTHFULNESS: The Holy Prophet was asked about the means of getting perfection. He replied : Truthfulness in talk and action with sincerity. The man who has got these six things is called Siddiq or a great truthful man. The man who has got one or more of these things is called Sadiq or simple truthful man - (1) truth in talk, (2) truth in will and resolve, (3) truth in promise, (4) truth in fulfilling promise, (5) truth in action, (6) truth in various stages of religion.