Perhaps one of the most hurtful experiences in life is when someone breaks a promise they made to you. You might struggle to trust them again and doubt they even speak the truth.
Likewise, how many promises have you broken, even if they seemed insignificant?
When it comes to promises, we humans seem to easily make them, and break them. There is a promise though, which truly is sacred and is never broken. It is the promise of Allah, the Most High.
Even though we know Allah’s promises are true, do you really live by this fact? Keeping a promise is a demonstration of being truthful, it’s time to ask ourselves: how much do we love the truth and how much do we really live by it?
Let’s discover a beautiful verse in the Quran and supplication from the Sunnah centred around the promise of Allah, and above all, the meaning of Truth.
A Verse of Promise and Al-Haqq
In chapter Al Qasas, we find a beautiful example of Allah’s promise:
So We restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of the people do not know. (Quran, 28:13)
When Allah Himself makes a promise, He will make it happen. Now stop a moment and think; how close are you to the promises of Allah? Do you know some the promises Allah made in the Quran?
One of Allah’s beautiful Names is Al-Haqq, the Absolute Truth, cited nine times in the Quran, and His promises are a demonstration of this powerful attribute. The ultimate and greatest Truth ever is the existence of Allah, Exalted is He! Allah is Al-Haqq, the Truth, and His words, orders, prohibitions, decree and promises are truth.
A Supplication of Nine Truths to Have No Worries
There are nine most important facts (truths) of life that, if you lived by them, would help you have a clear vision and pave your way to Paradise. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) urged us to invoke Allah focusing on these nine facts each day, and translate them into daily action.
If you lived by them, any falsehood in life wouldn’t blind you from the truth, because you will be seeking the truth. Even if temptations were irresistible and everyone around you was blinded by falsehood.
Living by these nine truths is a solution for all worries, in whatever area of life; what are these truths and facts the Prophet Muhammad used in his invocation?
Narrated Ibn Abbas: When the Prophet got up at night to offer the Tahajjud prayer, he used to say:
O Allah! All the praises are for you, You are the Holder of the Heavens and the Earth, And whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You have the possession of the Heavens and the Earth And whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth And all the praises are for You; You are the King of the Heavens and the Earth; And all the praises are for You; You are the Truth and Your Promise is the truth, and to meet You is true, Your Word is the truth and Paradise is true and Hell is true and all the Prophets (peace be upon them) are true; and Muhammad is true, and the Day of Resurrection is true. (Part of the supplication, Sahih Al Bukhari, Book of the Night Prayer, hadith 221)
Transliteration of the dua:
Allahumma lakal-hamd, anta qayyimus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Walakal-hamd, laka mulkus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Walakal-hamd, anta nurus-samawati wal-ard. Walakalhamd, anta-l-haqq wa wa’duka-l-haqq, wa liqa’uka haqq, wa qawluka haqq, wal-jannatu Haqq wan-naru Haqq wannabiyuna haqq, wa Muhammadun, sallal-lahu’alayhi wasallam, haqq, was-sa’atu haqq.
Nine Action points
1. You (Allah) are the Truth
Allah, the absolute Truth, urges us to take inspiration from this attribute by loving the truth until it becomes the dearest thing to us! Abide by the truth, even if it is seemingly against your personal interests, remain steadfast and never give up the truth.
2. Your Promise is Truth
The next fact is: ‘Your Promise is Truth..’ Know that with Allah is your sustenance and never worry about it as it is guaranteed by Him. Believe from the bottom of your heart that anything Allah promises you, surely is true and will happen, sooner or later.
3. Meeting You is Truth
Allah says:
If you see when they are assembled before their Lord! He will say: ‘Is not this the Truth?’ They will say: ‘Yes indeed, by our Lord!’ (Quran, 6:30)
Daily remind yourself of your meeting with Allah, and ask Him to come to Him with a sound heart (qalbun saleem).
4. Your Word is Truth
The Quran is our link with His Words; what a blessing to be able to open the Book of Allah with this ease! Recite the Quran and believe with your very being every word in it is true and above all act upon this, for if you don’t, you will not be sticking to the truth!
5. Paradise is Truth
Imagine this conversation in the Hereafter:
And the companions of Paradise will call out to the companions of the Fire, “We have already found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have you found what your Lord promised to be true?” (Quran, 7:44)
In Arabic the verse is in the past tense, emphasizing Paradise is an established fact, the truth.
6. Hell is Truth
[Iblees] said, “By your might, I will surely mislead them all. Except, among them, Your chosen servants.” [ Allah ] said, “The truth [is My oath], and the truth I say -[That] I will surely fill Hell with you and those of them that follow you all together. (Quran, 38:82-85)
Ahmad ibn Harb said: “I wonder how the one who knows that above him, paradise is being embellished, and below him, hell fire is being kindled, and yet he sleeps between them!”
Your stance on the truth in this world is directly linked to your final destination. Choose wisely.
7. The Prophets are Truth
Adam, Ibrahim, Jesus, Moses, Solomon (peace be upon them all) are all Truth and their mission was to make Truth triumphant over falsehood. In our journey of life in this world, the Prophets and their mission should be part of our identity. Therefore study, live by and convey the stories and lessons of the lives of the prophets.
8. Muhammad is Truth
Allah Himself, the Lord of the Worlds, describes him as:
We have sent you with Truth to give glad tidings and to warn…
After 23 years of exile, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) conquered Makkah; he entered Makkah repeating the verse representing the essence of his message: “Truth has come and falsehood has vanished..” He made tawaf around the Ka’bah saying:
Truth has come and falsehood has vanished, indeed falsehood is bound to vanish. (Quran, 17:81)
Being truthful in your love of the Prophet Muhammad, means loving and living by the truth in your daily life. Beg Allah for guidance and to help you recognize the truth from falsehood.
9. The Hour is Truth
The Day of Resurrection and Standing is inevitable; it will come because it is truth and the truth will then be triumphant over falsehood. In the powerful chapter Al-Haaqqah, Allah the Most High questions:
The Inevitable Reality – What is the Inevitable Reality? And what can make you know what is the Inevitable Reality? (Quran, 69:1-3)
That Day is a certainty; truly think of why you would sacrifice the truth for your personal interests?
This comprehensive supplication urges us to understand the nine facts, so
we understand the purpose behind our creation.
Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned? So exalted is Allah , the Sovereign, the Truth; there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Noble Throne. (Quran, 22:115-116)
If you live by these nine truths, you will find happiness here and in the Hereafter.
We ask Allah, the Most High, to make us abide by the truth, to encourage others to the truth, to raise our children upon the truth and to die upon the truth.
Ameen!